Building

in a general sense, a fabric erected by art, either for devotion, magnificence, conveniency, or defence. Military Buildings , are of various sorts, viz. powder-magazines, bridges, gates, barracks, hospitals, store-houses, guard-rooms, . Regular Building , is that whose plan is square, the opposite sides equal, and all the parts disposed with symmetry. Irregular Building , that whose plan is not contained within equal or parallel lines, either by the accident of situation, or the design of the builder, and whose parts are not relative to one another in the elevation. Insulated Building , that which is not contiguous to any other, but is encompa ed with streets, open squares, . or any building which stands in a river, on a rock surrounded by the sea, marsh, . Engaged Building , one surrounded with other buildings, having no front to any street or public place, nor any communication without, but by a common pa age. Interred or sunk Building , one whose area is below the surface of the place where it stands, and of which the lowest courses of stone are concealed. In building there are three things to be considered, viz. commodity or conveniency; secondly, firmne or stability; thirdly, delight. To accomplish which ends, Wotton considers the whole subject under two heads, namely, the seat or situation, and the work. 1. As for the seat, either that of the whole is to be considered, or that of its parts. 2. As to the situation, regard is to be had to the quality, temperature, and salubrity or heal you r of the air; that it be a good healthy air, not subject to foggy noisomene from adjacent fens or marshes; also free from noxious mineral exhalations; nor should the place want the sweet influence of the sun-beams, nor be wholly destitute of the breezes of wind, that will fan and purge the air; the want of which would render it like a stagnated pool, and would be very unhealthy. In the foundations of buildings , Vitruvius orders the ground to be dug up, to examine its firmne ; that an apparent solidity is not to be trusted, unle the whole mould cut through be sound and solid: ’tis true, he does not say to what depth it should be dug: but Palladio determines it to be a sixth part of the height of the building. The great laws of walling are:—1. That the walls stand perpendicular on the ground-work, the right angle being the foundation of all stability. 2. That the largest and heaviest materials be the lowest, as more proper to sustain others than be sustained themselves. 3. That the work diminish in thickne , as it rises, both for the ease of weight and to le en the expence. 4. That certain courses, or lodges, of more strength than the rest, be interlaid, like bones, to sustain the wall from total ruin, if some of the under parts chance to decay. 5. Lastly, that the angles be firmly bound, they being the nerves of the whole fabric. These are sometimes fortified on each side the corners, even in brick buildings, with square stones; which add both beauty and strength to the edifice. See Stone , Bricks , Lime , Sand .