Architecture and Construction - Describing Buildings

Here you will learn some English words related to describing buildings such as "vacant", "interior", and "spacious".

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Architecture and Construction
air-conditioned [adjective]

(of vehicles or buildings) equipped with a cooling system that dries the air

Ex: Working in an air-conditioned office made the sweltering summer days much more bearable .
indoor [adjective]

(of a place, space, etc.) situated inside a building, house, etc.

Ex: Indoor rock climbing gyms simulate natural rock formations for climbers to practice their skills .
vacant [adjective]

(of a house, room, seat, etc.) empty or unoccupied and available to be used

Ex: The hotel had a few vacant rooms available for last-minute bookings .
stuccoed [adjective]

(of a wall or ceiling) decorated or covered with a type of plaster called stucco

upstairs [adverb]

on or toward a higher part of a building

Ex: Let 's have a movie night upstairs in the entertainment room .
rundown [adjective]

(of a place or building) in a very poor condition, often due to negligence

Ex: The rundown neighborhood had a high crime rate and few residents .
picturesque [adjective]

(particularly of a building or place) having a pleasant and charming appearance, often resembling a picture or painting

Ex: Her picturesque garden was filled with colorful flowers and lush greenery .
interior [adjective]

located on the inside part of a particular thing

Ex: The interior lining of the jacket provides extra warmth in cold weather .
formal [adjective]

(of a garden, room, or park) having an organized and regular design, which follows specific design rules

exterior [adjective]

located on the outer surface of a particular thing

Ex:
exclusive [adjective]

restricted or limited to a select group, often offering premium quality or services to a specific, privileged audience

Ex: The resort offers exclusive packages for VIP guests .
downstairs [adverb]

on or toward a lower part of a building, particularly the first floor

Ex: She lives downstairs in the basement apartment .
dilapidated [adjective]

damaged or deteriorated over time, often due to neglect or insufficient maintenance

Ex: She found an old , dilapidated sofa at the thrift store .
cramped [adjective]

(of a room, house, etc.) lacking enough space

Ex:
bijou [adjective]

(particularly of a building) small, yet stylish and attractive

architectural [adjective]

relating to the study or art of constructing or designing a building

Ex:
arched [adjective]

(of a structure) having a curved shape at the top

abandoned [adjective]

(of a building, car, etc.) left and not needed or used anymore

Ex:
vaulted [adjective]

(of a roof) built in form of a arch or several arches joined together

unoccupied [adjective]

describing a state or condition in which a space or property is not being used, inhabited, or occupied by individuals

tumbledown [adjective]

describing a state or condition of a building or structure that is dilapidated, in a state of disrepair, or on the verge of collapsing

split-level [adjective]

having floors or rooms built at slightly different heights

spacious [adjective]

(of a room, house, etc.) large with a lot of space inside

Ex: The hotel suite was spacious , with separate areas for sleeping , lounging , and dining .
semi-detached [adjective]

(of a house) sharing a wall with another similar house on one side

Ex:
rambling [adjective]

(of a building or structure) irregularly built or spread out in an unplanned, sprawling manner

Ex:
palatial [adjective]

resembling or associated with a palace in structure or function

Ex: The estate 's palatial architecture reflected its noble origins .
open-plan [adjective]

(of buildings or rooms) having few or no internal walls, creating a large, open space

Ex: The school 's library was redesigned into an open-plan layout to accommodate more students .
non-residential [adjective]

(of buildings, structures, or spaces) not primarily designed or used for residential purposes, such as commercial, industrial, institutional, or public buildings

modular [adjective]

consisting of separate, self-contained units that can be combined or rearranged in various configurations

moated [adjective]

(of a castle, house, etc.) having a wide and deep hole around, which is often filled with water and is used as a protection against enemy attacks

low-rise [adjective]

referring to buildings or structures that have a limited number of floors

high-rise [adjective]

(of buildings) having many floors

Ex:
lofty [adjective]

(of a mountain, building, etc.) very tall and outstanding

Ex: The castle 's towers reached lofty heights , visible from miles around .
ionic [adjective]

related to the ancient Greek style of architecture that uses a scroll-shaped decoration

gabled [adjective]

having a triangular-shaped roof formed by two sloping sides that meet at a ridge, typically found on the end of a building or structure

doric [adjective]

relating to an ancient Greek style of architecture that uses massive plain columns with squared tops

detached [adjective]

(of a house) standing alone in a way that does not have any shared walls with other houses

Ex:
derelict [adjective]

having a poor condition, often because of being abandoned or neglected for a long time

Ex:
corinthian [adjective]

relating to or characteristic of a style of architecture known for its fancy and detailed design, featuring columns with decorative tops and leafy decorations, often seen in ancient Greek and Roman buildings

colonial [adjective]

reflecting the style of architecture or decoration typical in 18th-century America under British influence

Ex: Colonial furniture often features simple , sturdy design .
wall-to-wall [adjective]

completely filled or saturated

Ex: Their schedule is wall-to-wall meetings this week .
louvred [adjective]

characterized by having slatted openings or panels that allow for the passage of air or light while providing some degree of privacy or shading

double-glazed [adjective]

referring to windows or doors that are constructed with two panes of glass separated by a layer of air or gas, providing improved insulation and noise reduction

prefabricated [adjective]

(particularly of a piece of furniture or building) made in parts that can be easily and quickly put together

insulated [adjective]

covered with a substance that does not let heat, electricity, or sound to enter or escape through it

Ex: The insulated electrical wiring in the building ensured safety and minimized the risk of electrical fires .
concrete [adjective]

consisting of a hard building material that is made of the mixture of cement, water, sand, and small stones

Ex: The engineer inspected the concrete bridge to ensure its safety and integrity .
leaded [adjective]

(of a roof or windowpane) having frames covered with or made of lead