How to classify building categories
Buildings are important places where humans live and work, and they are classified in various ways. Buildings can be divided into different categories based on different criteria. This article will combine the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days, introduce the classification of buildings in detail, and provide structured data for readers to better understand.
1. Divide by function

Buildings are one of the most common classification methods according to their use functions, which mainly include the following categories:
| Category | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| residential building | buildings for people to live in | House, apartment, villa |
| public building | Buildings that provide services to the public | schools, hospitals, museums |
| industrial building | Buildings used for industrial production or warehousing | Factory, warehouse, workshop |
| commercial building | Buildings used for commercial activities | Shopping malls, office buildings, hotels |
| agricultural buildings | buildings used for agricultural production | Greenhouses, farms, granaries |
2. Classification by building height
Building height is also one of the important criteria for classifying buildings, which are usually divided into the following categories:
| Category | height range | Example |
|---|---|---|
| low rise building | 1-3 floors | Single-family houses, small shops |
| multi-storey building | 4-6 floors | Apartment buildings, office buildings |
| small high-rise building | 7-12 floors | Mid-range residential building |
| high-rise building | Floor 13-24 | High-end residential buildings and office buildings |
| super high-rise building | 25th floor and above | skyscrapers, landmarks |
3. Classification by building structure
The building structure is the skeleton of the building. Different structural forms are suitable for different building types:
| Category | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| wooden structure | Using wood as the main load-bearing material | Traditional houses and wooden houses |
| Brick-concrete structure | Brick walls and concrete are the main load-bearing materials | Ordinary residences, small office buildings |
| steel structure | Steel is the main load-bearing material | Large factories and gymnasiums |
| reinforced concrete structure | Reinforced concrete is the main load-bearing material | high-rise buildings, bridges |
| frame structure | Beam-column frame as the main load-bearing system | Office buildings, shopping malls |
4. Classification by architectural style
Architectural styles reflect the cultural characteristics of different periods and regions. Common architectural styles include:
| Category | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| classical style | A style that draws on ancient architectural elements | Greek columns, Roman arches |
| modern style | Simple, functional style | Glass curtain wall buildings, minimalist houses |
| postmodern style | Reflections and breakthroughs on modernism | deconstructivist architecture |
| regional style | Architectural style reflecting local characteristics | Jiangnan Water Town Architecture and Siheyuan |
| eco style | Environmentally friendly and sustainable style | Green buildings, passive houses |
5. Classification by building materials
The choice of building materials directly affects the appearance and performance of the building. Common classifications are as follows:
| Category | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| traditional materials construction | Use traditional natural materials | Timber structure, masonry construction |
| modern materials construction | Use industrially produced materials | reinforced concrete building |
| composite building | Use a variety of materials in combination | Steel structure + glass curtain wall |
| New material construction | Use high-tech new materials | Carbon fiber construction, 3D printing construction |
6. Classification by construction age
The construction age reflects the architectural characteristics of different historical periods:
| Category | chronological range | Features |
|---|---|---|
| ancient architecture | before 19th century | Traditional craftsmanship, hand-built |
| modern architecture | 19th century to mid-20th century | In the early stages of industrialization, the application of new materials |
| modern architecture | Mid-20th century to early 21st century | functionalism, standardization |
| contemporary architecture | 21st century to present | Intelligent, sustainable development |
Conclusion
There are many ways to classify buildings. This article introduces six main classification criteria: use function, building height, building structure, architectural style, building materials and building age. Each classification method has its own unique meaning and application scenarios. In actual work, it is often necessary to combine multiple classification standards to fully describe the characteristics of a building. With the continuous development of construction technology, more new construction categories and classification methods may appear in the future.
Understanding building classification not only helps us better understand buildings, but also has important guiding significance for building design, construction, maintenance and management. I hope this article can help readers systematically understand the relevant knowledge of building classification.
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