Talk like an architect

Can you distinguish your Roman from your Romanesque structures? Do you know what a xyst is? Would you be able to identify Eric Owen Moss were he to appear next to you at the Whole Foods olive counter? If architecture isn’t your “Jeopardy” category strong suit, www.archpedia.com will help build a solid foundation of architectural history, vocabulary and trivia.

Loaded with information delivered in a matter-of-fact tone long mastered by the British, the comprehensive website is custom-built for fledgling aficionados who may have heard terms like “parapet” and “pediment” often enough but have never quite gotten round to fully understanding them. Looking for an abbreviated -- and visual -- lesson on what distinguishes New Brutalism from Postmodern buildings? It’s right here.

Even so, your inner architect may wonder why some of the information is so illogically organized. A grid of 44 un-hyperlinked head shots is virtually impossible to connect with the right names, and the Architecture Gallery page limits itself to three projects, all by Frank Gehry. For many, the payoff will come with the quizzes, a series of multiple-choice tests that swiftly expose any structural weaknesses in your architectural knowledge.

- Alexandria Abramian-Mott