Building

A building or edifice is an enclosed structure with a roof and walls, usually standing permanently in one place,[1] such as a house or factory.

Building types may range from huts to multimillion-dollar high-rise apartment blocks able to house thousands of people.

For residents in need of special care, or those society considers dangerous enough to deprive of liberty, there are institutions (nursing homes, orphanages, psychiatric hospitals, and prisons) and group housing (barracks and dormitories).

The practice of designing, constructing, and operating buildings is most usually a collective effort of different groups of professionals and trades.

[12] If new technologies in construction are not adopted during this time of rapid growth, emissions could double by 2050, according to the United Nations Environment Program.

Glass buildings, especially all-glass skyscrapers, contribute significantly to climate change due to their energy inefficiency.

While these structures are visually appealing and allow abundant natural light, they also trap heat, necessitating increased use of air conditioning systems, which contribute to higher carbon emissions.

Experts advocate for design modifications and potential restrictions on all-glass edifices to mitigate their detrimental environmental impact.

[15][16] 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.

They may be damaged by accidents[21] involving storms, explosions, subsidence caused by mining,[22] water withdrawal[23] or poor foundations[24] and landslides.