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Pilaster is a wall portion projecting from either or both wall faces and serving as a vertical column or beam. Pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile.
The pilaster is an architectural element in classical architecture used to give the appearance of a supporting column and to articulate an extent of wall, with only an ornamental function. In contrast, an engaged column or buttress can support the structure of a wall and roof above.
