Types of building
The word ‘building’ is commonly considered to refer to an enclosed structure within which people can perform activities. See our introductory article: Building.
There are many ways of classifying types of building, including:
- Construction type.
- Cost.
- Use.
- Size.
- Style.
- Period.
- Design (form, structure, etc).
- Performance (energy consumption, accessibility, etc).
- Nature of occupancy/ownership.
This article presents a list of common types of building alphabetically with links to articles providing further information. To add to the list, click ‘Edit this article’ above.
- A frame house.
- Abbey.
- Accessory structure.
- Air-supported structure.
- Affordable housing.
- Airport.
- Apartment.
- Assembly and recreation building.
- Assembly building.
- Bandstand.
- Bank.
- Barn.
- Bungalow.
- Bus shelter.
- Bus station.
- Cafe.
- Canteen.
- Casino.
- Castle.
- Cathedral.
- Cave.
- Chapel.
- Church.
- Cinema.
- Cluster accommodation.
- Commercial building.
- Commonhold.
- Complex buildings.
- Condominium.
- Conservatory.
- Cottage.
- Convenience store.
- Council housing.
- Covered area.
- Custom build home.
- Data centre.
- Department store.
- Detached.
- Double fronted building.
- Duplex.
- Dwelling.
- Earth building (see also Earthen construction).
- Entertainment building.
- Extension.
- Fabric structure.
- Factory.
- Farm buildings.
- Ferry terminal.
- Fire engineered buildings.
- Fire station.
- Flat.
- Freehold.
- Gallery.
- Garage.
- Geodesic dome.
- Greenhouse.
- Groundscraper.
- High-rise building.
- Hospital.
- Hostel.
- Hotel.
- Household.
- Houses in multiple occupation.
- Housing association.
- Hut.
- Industrial building.
- Inflatable building.
- Institution.
- Intermediate housing.
- Kiosk
- Kit house.
- Large format retail premises.
- Lean to.
- Leasehold.
- Leisure centre.
- Library.
- Lighthouse.
- Live/work unit.
- Low-rise.
- Mall.
- Manse.
- Maisonette.
- Meanwhile use.
- Medium-rise.
- Megastructure.
- Megatall.
- Minor development.
- Mixed use development.
- Modern building.
- Modular building.
- Mosque.
- Multi-storey building.
- Museum.
- Non-residential institution.
- Office.
- Outbuilding.
- Pavilion
- Penthouse.
- Permanent building.
- Petrol station.
- Police station.
- Portable building.
- Portaloo.
- Portakabin®.
- Post office.
- Power station.
- Pub.
- Pumping station.
- Prefab bungalow.
- Public building.
- Railway station.
- Refinery.
- Residential building.
- Residential institution.
- Retail building.
- Retail warehousing.
- School.
- Secure residential institution.
- Self build home.
- Semi-detached / Semi.
- Shack.
- Shed.
- Shelter.
- Sheltered housing.
- Shop.
- Shopping centre.
- Single-storey building.
- Simple premises.
- Skyscraper.
- Smoking shelters.
- Social housing.
- Specialist accommodation for older people.
- Specialist premises.
- Speculative development.
- Stable
- Stadium.
- Stand-alone building.
- Star building.
- Stately home.
- Storage building.
- Student accommodation.
- Sui generis.
- Supermarket.
- Super-slender.
- Supertall.
- Supported housing.
- Surgery.
- Swimming pool.
- Synagogue
- Telephone Box
- Temporary building.
- Temporary demountable structure.
- Terminal / terminus.
- Terraced house.
- Theatre.
- Toilet.
- Tower.
- Town hall.
- Traditional building.
- Train station.
- Twisting building.
- Venue.
- Visitor Centre
- Warehouse.
- Windmill.
- Workplace.
- Yurt
- Zero carbon building.
- Ziggurat.
See also: Architectural styles and Use class.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.
UK gov apprenticeship funding from April 2024
Brief summary the policy paper updated in March.
For the World Autism Awareness Month of April.
70+ experts appointed to public sector fire safety framework
The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework from LHC Procurement.
Project and programme management codes of practice
CIOB publications for built environment professionals.
The ECA Industry Awards 2024 now open !
Recognising the best in the electrotechnical industry.
Sustainable development concepts decade by decade.
The regenerative structural engineer
A call for design that will repair the natural world.
Buildings that mimic the restorative aspects found in nature.
CIAT publishes Principal Designer Competency Framework
For those considering applying for registration as a PD.
BSRIA Building Reg's guidance: The second staircase
An overview focusing on aspects which most affect the building services industry.
Design codes and pattern books
Harmonious proportions and golden sections.
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.
Quick summary by size, shape, test, material, use or bonding..
Comments
[edit] To make a comment about this article, or to suggest changes, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.