Design Speak lets you in on a some industry lingo so that you will sound oh-so-smart. From abbreviations to acronyms to phrases to trendy words, we’ll do our best to cover it, and we’ll do it in language you’ll understand.

P

P.O.

(pronounced like the initials: pee-oh)

See purchase order.

palazzo

(pronounced pah-LAHT-soh)

The culture that brought the world pizza first brought us the palazzo: a grandiose, somewhat imposing building, which is commonly used as a museum or a place of residence. Though, as we explained, the term particularly applies in Italy, it is not uncommon to hear it used in other regions of the world.

panel box

(pronounced PA-nehl bahks)

Also known simply as a "panel" or a "breaker box," a panel box truly is a box. Made out of metal and attached to or inset into a wall located in a garage, mechanical room, or otherwise out-of-the-way location, the box contains circuit breakers and is the central panel bringing power into a home or building. You will sometimes here older people use the term “fusebox" to refer to a panel.

See also: circuit breaker

panel systems

(pronounced PA-nehl SIS-tehmz)

See systems furniture.

panic hardware

Kind of a silly name for an important item, otherwise known as an exit device. Simply put, panic hardware is type of door-locking device that is designed to grant instant exit from an area, usually by pressing on a crossbar (a.k.a. touch or push bar) and releasing a latch or locking bolt. It is designed to be operable in the direction of egress travel. If tested and approved, this kind of exit hardware can have a fire-rating label certifying its suitability for use on fire-rated emergency doors. Such hardware may be one of the following:

1. mortise type, having the lock mechanism mortised into the edge of the door or concealed within the door

2. rim type, having the lock mechanism mounted on the interior face of the door

3. vertical rod type, surface or concealed, having the latches in or on the top and/or bottom of the door and activated by the cross bar through a rod linkage extending vertically on or in the lock stile of the door

PAR / Parabolic Aluminized Reflector

(pronounced par / pa-reh-BAH-lik ah-LOO-meh-nyezd rih-FLEHK-ter)

Both the abbreviation and the term refer to an incandescent lamp (a.k.a. “light bulb” having a tungsten filament) with a built-in silvered reflector that helps focus the light, forming wide, medium, or narrow beams. As you might imagine, PAR lamps provide a more specific beam control than the typical lamp. Different lenses produce different effects: corrugated lens produce a flood of light while a speckled lens produces a more narrow beam. The lamp itself can be heavy, but they can often be used outdoors as well. PAR lamps come in a variety of sizes, which are revealed by their designation. For example: You know that a PAR 36 is 4-1/2” in diameter because the number stands for how many 1/8ths of an inch in diameter the lamp is – e.g., 36 x1/8” = 36/8” = 4-1/2”.

parchment

(pronounced PARCH-mehnt)

In this day and age we tend to think of parchment simply as paper, but it actually is a thin, paper-like material made from hide – i.e., goat-, sheep- or calfskin – and extra fine parchment is referred to as vellum. Different from leather in that it is not tanned but limed, parchment is not waterproof and reacts to humidity. Before paper was commonly available, parchment was used as a writing surface for manuscripts, documents and books, and it is still used today for book restoration, as well as on high-end furniture pieces and accessories.

See also: vellum

parterre

(pronounced par-TAYR)

You’ve probably heard the term “terra firma” to mean solid ground. Let that help you remember this word, which means an ornamental garden designed with footpaths between the flower beds. Though they are usually very formal and sit on grand estates, more modest and casual versions exist as well.

parti

(pronounced par-TEE)

Take from the French term prendre parti meaning "to make a decision” or “to take sides,” parti has come to mean the big organizing idea, basic concept, or primary thought behind an architectural design. It can be presented in a straightforward written statement or, more often, in the form of a two-dimensional diagram or sketch or as a three-dimensional model. A parti is a result of constraints and decisions as they relate to site, form, structure and circulation, and it is meant to capture the fundamental nature of the project overall.

partition

This word has so many meanings, but the main one we’re concerned about is this: an interior dividing wall. In construction documents, a designer or architect will need to designate “partition types” so that contractors know how to build out the space and so that inspectors know the space will comply with local building and fire codes. Masonry partitions mainly differ due to varying materials: cinder block, concrete block, brick, plaster. However, the most common partition types are made up of studs and drywall (AKA gypsum board). These partition types vary due to differing
1) sizes and spacing of studs (metal or wood),
2) types, sizes and layers of gypsum board, and
3) types and amounts of insulation.
They also differ due to height (up to finished ceiling versus up to the underside of the structure) and to the type of bracing methods to the structure.

passimentre

(pronounced pass-MAHN-tree)

This fancy French word is the collective term for all upholstery trim in general: cording, fringe, gimp, rosettes, tapes, tassels, trimmings, etc.

passive solar heating / cooling

(pronounced PA-siv SO-lehr HEE-ting / KU-ling)

A strategy by which designers of homes and buildings take advantage of nature, allowing the sun’s energy to heat and cool structures effectively and efficiently. If designed well, a structure’s energy consumption and environmental impact can both be dramatically reduced. Passive designs require the thoughtful integration of a building’s elements and their respective materials – i.e., roof, windows, floors, and walls – all of which work together to collect, store, release, and distribute heat within the system. These passive elements operate in tandem with a standard mechanical system, which then can be reduced in size.

pediment

(pronounced PE-deh-mehnt)

See broken pediment.

pelmet

(pronounced PEL-met)

Remember this word by what it rhymes with: helmet. A helmet is to one’s bed head as a pelmet is to one’s curtain hardware: it hides the unattractive bits. Yes, a pelmet is a decorative piece that is placed above a window to 1) conceal curtain fixtures, and/or 2) add to the décor. It can be simple or drastically ornamental, rigid or soft to the touch. It is similar in appearance to a cornice or valence.

See also: cornice, valance

pendentive

(pronounced PEN-den-tiv)

See spandrel.