Overview
Alright, you’ve done your research, you’ve meticulously scoured the internet for examples of the different orders to find the exact one to fit your style, you’re ready to pull the trigger when you ask yourself “How do I know how many of these I need?” Don’t worry, Vitruvius had an answer for that as well, intercolumniation. Odds are that is a word you have never heard, so I will do my best to define it here.
Intercolumniation refers to the proportional spacing between columns in a colonnade. There are 6 different standard “styles” based on the diameter of the widest (bottom) part of the column shaft. As always, while these are presented as “rules” they do not have to be followed to the letter of the law if it does not make sense for your project, some of the most famous examples of architecture don’t even follow them, but it is a good starting point. Below I will define each style.
Styles
Pycnostyle
Pycnostyle is the narrowest of the styles, dictating the spacing between your columns should be 1 ½ diameters.
Example: If your columns are 12” bottom diameter, your columns should be spaced 18” apart.
Systyle
Systyle Intercolumniations ups Pycnostyle a little bit, calling for spacing of 2 diameters.
Example: If your columns are 12” bottom diameter, your columns should be 24” apart.
Eustyle
Eustyle Intercolumniation was considered by Vitruvius to be the perfect proportional spacing, calling for a gap of 2 ¼ diameters, with a gap of 3 diameters between middle columns.
Example: If your columns are 12” bottom diameter, the two middle columns should be 36” apart, with each subsequent column being 27” apart.
Diastyle
Diastyle calls for a gap of 3 diameters between each column.
Example: If your columns are 12” bottom diameter, the columns should be 36” apart.
Araeostyle
Araeostyle calls for the largest gap of the styles, calling for 4 diameters or more.
Example: If your columns are 12” bottom diameter, the gap should be 48” or larger.
Araeosystyle
Araeosystyle alternates the spacing between Araeostyle and Systyle.
Example: If your columns are 12” bottom diameter, the first gap would be 48”, then 27”, then 48” etc.
