Building
In
architecture,
construction, and
real estate development the word
building may refer to one of the following:# Any man-made structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous
occupancy or# An act of
construction.
To differentiate
buildings and other structures that are
not intended for continuous human
occupancy, the latter are called
nonbuilding structures.
*
Physiological. The
human body can be sustained and may effectively function only within a limited range of climatic conditions such as temperature, humidity, moisture, sunlight, and amount of oxygen and pollutants in the air. Along with access to food and drinking water, the need to creating places that are protected from the
outdoors and where one can comfortably live, work, eat, sleep,
procreate or engage in
leisurely activities has always been a top priority for
humans. A building as a shelter represents a physical division of the
human habitat into the
inside (a place of comfort and safety) and the
outside (a place that at times may be harsh and harmful).
*
Psychological. Buildings are an inseparable and in most cases an essential part of basic attributes of a human life, such as
home,
family,
work, and
sex.
*
Philosophical. The ability to create, control and change their living conditions is what separates humans from
animals. Unlike less intelligent species who are driven purely by a natural
instinct when building their
nests, humans can construct buildings for purposes other than creating a shelter. Buildings can be used to express a religious belief (see
Religious architecture), make a political statement (see
Freedom Tower;
Nazi architecture;
Stalinist architecture), or serve as
status symbols that reflect the wealth and high social status of their owners (see
Egyptian pyramids;
Mansion;
World's tallest structures).
*
Aesthetical. Humans have a remarkable drive to reflect on their lives and express themselves through
art. Ever since the first
cave paintings, the buildings and everything on, inside and near buildingsâ€"
walls,
ceilings,
furniture,
furnishings,
appliances,
plumbing fixtures,
lighting,
gardens,
courtyards,
streets and
public parksâ€"have become objects of artistic expression.
The first artificial shelter on Earth is believed to be built 500,000 years ago by an ancient ancestor of
humans,
Homo erectus.
The practice of designing, constructing and operating buildings is as old as the humankind and is normally a collective effort of different groups of
professionals and
trades. Depending on the size, complexity and purpose of a particular building project, the project team may include:
* A
real estate developer who secures
funding for the project;
*
Construction managers who coordinate the effort of different groups of project participants;
* Licensed
architects and
engineers who provide building design and prepare
construction documents;
*
Landscape architects;
*
Interior designers;
*
Contractors who provide
construction services and install building systems such as
climate control,
electrical,
plumbing,
fire protection,
security and
telecommunications;
* Marketing or
leasing agents;
*
Facility managers who are responsible for operating the building.
Regardless of their size or intended use, all buildings must comply with
zoning ordinances,
building codes and other regulations such as
fire codes,
life safety codes and related standards.
Vehiclesâ€"such as
trailers,
caravans,
ships and passenger
aircraftâ€"are treated as "buildings" for life safety purposes.
Building ownership and funding
*
Real estate developer*
MortgagePlanning and design
*
Urban planning*
Site planning*
Architectural design*
Civil engineering*
Structural engineering*
Building engineering*
Landscape design*
Urban design*
Quantity surveying*
Project management in the building process chainConstruction
*
Construction management*
Site constructionOperation
Conveying systems
Systems for
transport of people within buildings:
*
Elevator*
Escalator*
Moving sidewalk (horizontal and inclined)
Systems for transport of people between interconnected buildings:
*
Skyway*
Underground cityMechanical systems
Electrical systems
*
Architecture*
Autonomous building*
Builders' rites*
Construction*
Fire protection*
Occupancy*
Green building*
Hurricane proof building*
List of building types*
Famous buildings*
Natural building*
Nonbuilding structure*
Skyscrapers
