BUILDING TYPOLOGIES IN ARCHITECTURE
Building typology refers to the process of classifying and documenting buildings
based on their essential characteristics such as the building function , building
form , or architectural style .
KEY ASPECTS OF BUILDING TYPOLOGIES
1.FUNCTIONAL TYPOLOGIES
Are classified according to their primary use or function .
Residential – Houses , apartments , cottages , villas ,dormitories , estates .
-In general , they include single-family housing , multi-family housing , row
houses and housing complexes like parks and gyms .
Apartments in Monte Carlo , Monaco
Commercial – Offices , from low to high rise buildings , retail buildings such
as shopping malls , showrooms , and strip malls , mixed-used buildings for
multiple functions such as retail , residential ,and office spaces into a single
structure .
SM City Mall in Bacolod , Philippines .
Institutional – Educational buildings such as schools , universities and
libraries , healthcare facilities such as hospitals , clinics , nursing homes and
morgues , civic buildings such as courthouse , town halls and museums ,and
religious buildings such as churches , mosques , temples , and synagogues .
Cultural – Museums and galleries , theaters and concert halls ,and sport
facilities such as stadia , arenas and gyms .
Industrial – Factories , warehouses , power plants , energy facilities and
logistics center for handling distribution and warehousing .
Hospitality – Hotels , resorts , restaurants , bars , cafés and fast foods .
Agricultural – farmhouses , barns , stables and greenhouses .
A greenhouse
Public – Parks , plazas , transportation hubs such as airports , bus stations
and train stations , libraries and civic centers .
Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada
2.FORMAL TYPOLOGIES
These are typologies based on the form and spatial configuration of a building .
Linear – Organized in a line such as row houses .
Dupont Circle , Washington DC . An example of row houses .
Clustered – Group around a central point such as villages .
Radial – Emerge from a central point such as rotundas .
Grid – Arranged in a geometric pattern .
3.HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TYPOLOGIES
Refers to studying buildings according to historical periods , cultural significance
,or styles:
Vernacular – Based on local traditions , materials and climate .
Classical – Based on ancient Greek and Roman architecture .
Pantheon , a Roman temple in Italy , Rome .
Modern – Based on current technology and aesthetic values .
4.URBAN AND CONTEXTUAL TYPOLOGIES
Based on the relationship of buildings within an urban or rural context .
High-rise vs. low-rise – City skylines(The line where earth and sky or water and
sky seem to meet ; horizon ) ,sky scrappers .
Petronas Twin Towers ,a sky scrapper in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
Public vs. private spaces
Mixed-used -Urban districts , which is integrating residential , commercial
,and recreational spaces within a single district ,and live-work spaces ,
which is integrating residential and commercial spaces in one space .
5.MATERIAL AND STRUCTURAL TYPOLOGIES
Classification of buildings according to materials and construction methods .
Timber , stone , brick , steel , concrete ,or hybrid typologies .
Honolulu Heights . These houses are built using bricks .
Prefabricated or modular building systems .
Other building typologies include sustainable typologies such as eco-homes , zero-
energy buildings ,and green roofs and vertical gardens , temporary typologies such
as tent structures , pop-up buildings ,and refugee camps .
WWF Headquarters in Zeist ,Netherlands . It is a zero-energy building .
IMPORTANCE OF TYPOLOGIES
Design efficiency – Helps architects and designers to find the most effective
solutions to common design challenges .
Efficiency – For better planning and functionality .
Sustainability – Guidance for use of materials and energy-efficient solutions
.
Innovation – Architects are able to explore new combinations and improve
existing typologies for modern needs .
Contextual relevance – Comprehension of typologies ensures designs are
culturally , socially and geographically appropriate .
Building typologies enable architects to address user needs , environmental
contexts , and analyze different architecture effectively .
