A building, or edifice, is a structure with a roof and[1] walls standing more or less permanently in one

location, such as a home or factory. [1] Buildings exist in a range of sizes, forms, and purposes, and have
been modified throughout history for a broad number of variables, from construction materials
available, to weather conditions, land costs, ground conditions, particular applications, and aesthetic
reasons. To further comprehend the word building see the list of nonbuilding structures.

Buildings fulfil many social requirements - mainly as protection from weather, security, living space,
privacy, to store things, and to comfortably live and work. A building as a shelter symbolises a physical
separation between the human habitat (a place of comfort and safety) and the outside (a place that at
times may be harsh and dangerous) (a place that at times may be harsh and harmful).

Ever since the earliest cave drawings, structures have also been subjects or canvasses of considerable
creative expression. In recent years, interest in sustainable planning and construction techniques has
also become a deliberate element of the design process of many new buildings and other structures.

Contents

1Definitions

2History \s3Types

3.1Residential \s3.2Complex \s4Creation

4.1Ownership and financing

5Building services

5.1Physical plant

5.2Conveying systems \s6Building damage

7See also

8References \s9External connections

Definitions

[edit]

The towers under development in Kalasatama, Helsinki, Finland (2021) (2021)

The term building is both a noun and a verb: the structure itself and the process of constructing it. As a
noun, a building is 'a construction that has a roof and walls and remains more or less permanently in one
place';[1] "there was a three-storey building on the corner"; "it was an imposing edifice". In the widest
sense a fence or wall is a structure. [2] However, the term structure is used more widely than building
encompassing natural and man-made formations[3] and does not always include walls. Structure is
more likely to be utilised for a fence. Sturgis' Dictionary stated that "[building] varies from architecture
in eliminating any notion of artistic treatment; and it differs from construction in the idea of excluding
scientific or highly skilled treatment." [4] As a verb, building is the act of constructing.

Structural height in technical use is the height to the tallest architectural feature on building from street-
level. Depending on how they are categorised, spires and masts may or may not be included in this
height. Spires and masts used as antennas are not usually included. The definition of a low-rise vs. a
high-rise building is a subject of dispute, although usually three storeys or fewer is considered low-rise.
[5] \sHistory[edit]

See also: History of architecture

There is clear evidence of homebuilding from about 18,000 BC.

[6] Buildings were widespread throughout the Neolithic (see Neolithic architecture) (see Neolithic
architecture).

[7]

Types[edit]

Main article: List of building kinds

A timber-framed home in Marburg (Germany) (Germany)

Belle Époque city-house in Bucharest (Romania), converted into a bookstore

City-house in Bucharest. In this picture its garden doesn't appear

Residential

[edit]

Main article: List of human habitation types

Single-family residential structures are most commonly termed houses or homes. Multi-family
residential structures having more than one housing unit are termed a duplex or an apartment building.
A condominium is an apartment that the tenant owns rather than leases. Houses may also be
constructed in pairs (semi-detached), in terraces where all but two of the houses have others either
side; flats may be built round courtyards or as rectangular blocks surrounded by a piece of land of
various proportions. Houses which were constructed as a single residence may subsequently be split
into flats or bedsitters; they may also be converted to another purpose e.g. an office or a store.

Building types may vary from huts to multimillion-dollar high-rise residential complexes able to
accommodate thousands of people. Increasing settlement density in structures (and reduced distances
between buildings) is typically a reaction to high ground costs resulting from many people desiring to
reside near to employment or similar attractors. Other popular construction materials include brick,
concrete or mixtures of any of these with stone.

Residential buildings have different names for their use depending if they are seasonal include holiday
cottage (vacation home) or timeshare; size such as a cottage or great house; value such as a shack or
mansion; manner of construction such as a log home or mobile home; proximity to the ground such as
earth sheltered house, stilt house, or tree house. Also if the inhabitants are in need of special care such
as a nursing facility, orphanage or jail; or in group housing like barracks or dormitories.

Historically many people lived in communal structures called longhouses, smaller homes called pit-
houses and houses coupled with barns occasionally called housebarns.

Buildings are considered to be large, permanent constructions thus alternative housing types such as
houseboats, yurts, and RVs are residences but not buildings.

Complex[edit]

Aluminum panel framed steel building, in Korea.

Sometimes a collection of inter-related (and potentially inter-connected) buildings are referred to as a

Creation[edit]

The process of planning, constructing, and running buildings is most typically a collaborative endeavour
of various groups of professions and crafts. Depending on the size, complexity, and purpose of a given
construction project, the project team may include:

A real estate developer who obtains financing for the project;

One or more financial institutions or other investors that supply the money

Local planning and code authorities

A surveyor that conducts an ALTA/ACSM and construction surveys throughout the project;

Construction supervisors who coordinate the work of various groups of project participants;

Licensed architects and engineers who offer building design and produce construction papers;

The main design Engineering disciplines which would usually comprise the following professionals: Civil,
Structural, Mechanical building services or HVAC (heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) (heating
Ventilation and Air Conditioning) Electrical Building Services, Plumbing and drainage. Also additional
possible design Engineer experts may be engaged such as Fire (prevention), Acoustic, façade engineers,
building physics, Telecoms, AV (Audio Visual), BMS (Building Management Systems) Automatic controls
etc. These design Engineers also prepare construction documents which are issued to specialist
contractors to obtain a price for the works and to follow for the installations.

Landscape architects; \sInterior designers; \sOther consultants; \sContractors who provide construction
services and instal building systems such as climate control, electrical, plumbing, decoration, fire
protection, security and telecommunications; \sMarketing or leasing agents; \sFacility managers who
are responsible for operating the building.

Regardless of their size or intended use, all buildings in the US must comply with zoning ordinances,
building codes and other regulations such as fire codes, life safety codes and related standards.

Vehicles—such as trailers, caravans, ships and passenger aircraft—are treated as "buildings" for life
safety purposes.

Ownership and funding

[edit]

Mortgage loan

Real estate developer

Building services[edit]

Physical plant[edit]

Main article: Physical plant

The BB&T Building in Macon, Georgia is constructed of aluminium.

Any building requires a certain general amount of internal infrastructure to function, which includes
such elements like heating / cooling, power and telecommunications, water and wastewater etc.
Especially in commercial buildings (such as offices or factories), these can be extremely intricate systems
taking up large amounts of space (sometimes located in separate areas or double floors / false ceilings)
and constitute a big part of the regular maintenance required.

Conveying systems[edit]

Systems for transport of people within buildings:

Elevator \sEscalator

Moving sidewalk (horizontal and inclined) (horizontal and inclined)

Systems for transport of people between interconnected buildings:

Skyway

Underground city \sBuilding damage

[edit]

A building in Massueville (Quebec, Canada), engulfed by fire

Buildings may be damaged during the construction of the building or during maintenance. There are
several other reasons behind building damage like accidents[10] such as storms, explosions, subsidence
caused by mining, water withdrawal[11] or poor foundations and landslides. [12] Buildings also may
suffer from fire damage[13] and flooding in special circumstances. They may also become dilapidated
through lack of proper maintenance or alteration work improperly carried out.