Final answer:
An atrium or cloister beside a church is a covered walkway or open arcade, often part of a monastery or convent, which serves as a secluded space for the religious community. In Roman architecture, an atrium was a large hall in a house with an open roof, while a cloister is surrounded by covered walkways and traditionally includes a garden or courtyard.
Step-by-step explanation:
An atrium or cloister beside a church is a covered walkway or open arcade. It is often found in monastic settings, acting as a secluded area for the religious community or as a tranquil courtyard for meditation and reflection. In antiquity, an atrium was a large central hall in a Roman house with an open roof that allowed light to enter. Over time, the term adapted to ecclesiastical architecture, describing similar spaces in Christian religious buildings.
The cloister, specifically, is an open area surrounded by covered walkways and is often found within a monastery or convent. This serene setting is typically off-limits to the public and reserved for the monastic community. Its architecture can be appreciated in the arrangements of arcades, often featuring a garden or fountain at its center.
An adjacent term worth mentioning is the peristyle, which denotes a colonnade that surrounds a courtyard, which can also be associated with an atrium. This particular style provides a grand aesthetic for major buildings and was typical in Roman architecture, especially in patrician homes and temples.