What is Building typology?

Building typology refers to the study and documentation of a set of buildings which have similarities in their type of function or form. There are two sides to the term "building typology". The first is a functional typology that categorizes buildings by the similarity of their use into groups such as hospitals, schools, and shopping centers. The second is a typology that groups buildings according to their forms, which is explained in this article. Formal building typology may be based on configuration, format, or relationships of building to streets and each other. Any single functional type can be subdivided into formal types. For example, the residential functional type may be further subdivided into formal categories such as high rise towers, single family homes, duplexes, and townhouses. The townhouse building is one formal type that has a specific configuration: single units are placed side-by-side with others, vertically oriented up to four stories tall, and facing the street. Many more variations of this formal type are found around the world, each with variations that are the result of local materials, cultural habits, age and technology. Documenting a type is the process of discovering the elements of similar forms which are the same. Usually building types are distinguished by their basic form, site configuration, and scale, but not their specific architectural style, color, or even precise use and are related to the era, the culture, and the environment in which they arise.