A building is
a man-made structure with a roof and walls standing
more or less permanently in one place, such as a houseor factory.[1] Buildings come in a variety of shapes, sizes and
functions, and have been adapted throughout history for a wide number of
factors, from building materials available,
to weather conditions, to land prices, ground conditions, specific uses and
aesthetic reasons. To better understand the term building compare the
list of nonbuilding structures.
Buildings
serve several needs of society – primarily as shelter from weather, security,
living space, privacy, to store belongings, and to comfortably live and work. A
building as a shelter represents a physical division of the human habitat (a
place of comfort and safety) and the outside (a place that at times
may be harsh and harmful).
Ever since
the first cave paintings, buildings have also become
objects or canvasess of artistic expression. In recent years, interest in sustainable planning and building practices has also
become an intentional part of the design process of many new buildings.
