Wall
From ArticleWorld
Wall is the term used for an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure. It may be an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes or a masonry fence as around an estate or garden. Simply defined it is an erection of brick, stone, etc for the purpose of fencing and security: the side of a building. The term wall has been derived from the Latin word vallum which means a fortification wall.
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Types of walls
Based on Structural differences there may be three types of walls.
- Building walls: These walls serve two objectives. First, they divide the living space in a house into different rooms; second, they provide safety and security from all kinds of outside interference. The third objective of building walls is to support the roof and ceiling of a house.
- Boundary walls: These walls not only provide privacy but also mark the outside boundary of the grounds. They are instrumental in keeping intruders and animals from entering the grounds of the house. A fence also marks boundaries and act as a barrier but fences are different from walls in that they are of much lighter construction and do not block vision like solid, concrete walls do. Of course, they are also not as dependable in keeping out intruders. Historically, boundary walls were used to fortify cities and countries by keeping enemies out. The Great Wall of China and Hadrian’s Wall are monumental examples of such walls.
- Retaining walls: A retaining wall is a very different kind of a wall. It is constructed to offer a barrier to either water, stone or movement of the earth. Dykes and levees are examples of such kinds of walls. These need to be built with reinforced steel and cement to be able to withstand the force of water or earth movement.