A house is a construction that is used as a home.
A house is a building to live in. The term is usually used to name the construction of one or a few floors that is intended for the housing of a single family , as opposed to buildings with multiple apartments , apartments or flats .
For example: " My aunt lives in a house with a garden and swimming pool" , "I would love to move to a house, because in the apartment I feel like I'm trapped" , "The criminals entered the house and threatened the couple" .
Function of a house
The houses have different environments ( room or bedroom, living room , kitchen, dining room, bathroom, basement, attic, etc.) and provide a roof for the members of the family unit. In this way, the house is a shelter against weather conditions (rain, sun, cold), provides a place to store the properties of its inhabitants and provides protection.
Not all houses have the same number of rooms. While some are essential (such as the bathroom or kitchen), others may not be present. A patio, a terrace, a balcony, a porch, a study or a garage , to name a few possibilities, are sectors that are not essential for the home , although they provide various benefits or comforts .
It should be noted that the first history of a house arose about 300,000 years ago, when hunters built temporary huts with branches and bushes. The oldest populations with stable houses would have emerged in the year 6,000 BC
The amenities
The comforts of a house are usually associated with the quantity and arrangement of the rooms . In that sense, architecture plays a fundamental role, which is the science that is responsible for the projection, design and construction of housing.
It is the architect who, based on the instructions of the person ordering the construction, defines how the façade will be made and what characteristics each wall, door and window of the home will have. However, once the property is ready, comfort is left in the hands of its occupants.
While there are technical issues that go beyond the structure itself and must be resolved by specialists (such as electrical , gas and plumbing installations), the owner must then take care of the choice of decoration, furniture and the heating system, for example.
Other issues that affect the well-being of the occupants are household appliances . Having a washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, microwave, air conditioning, coffee maker, blender and toaster, to name a few products, is important for daily life. Likewise, cutlery, dishes, glassware, bedding and lighting (lamps, nightstands) must be available according to the number of inhabitants.
Rugs, curtains and cushions also contribute to the “identity” of a home. Of course, when it comes to moving, the owner can move the appliances, dishes, curtains and other items to their new home.
A house can have several rooms.
House types
The types of houses are varied according to the characteristics of their construction . A chalet , for example, is a house that is built on land where there is unbuilt surface, such as a front or backyard or a garden .
A duplex , meanwhile, is a two-story house. The term can also refer to two homes arranged in parallel on the same piece of land. In a similar sense, a triplex can be a three-story construction or three related houses in a parallel line.
The house that has few divisions and is characterized by its luminosity is called a loft . If we think about more rustic homes, generally located in wild places, it may be a ranch , a bungalow or a cabin .
When the house is very luxurious, it is known as a mansion . The mansions, in addition to quality details, are usually characterized by being very spacious.
Real estate operations
Many times transactions involving houses are managed or administered by a real estate agency . These companies specialize in the purchase , sale and rental of real estate.
Becoming a homeowner is the dream of many people. However, due to the high economic cost, it is not easy to achieve. Although you can use a mortgage to access funds, buying a house is not easy.
Renting your home, then, is the obligatory option for many. The tenant can search for a furnished or unfurnished property according to their needs. The amount to be paid is related to the characteristics of the house (number of rooms, age, etc.) and the area (the neighborhood or neighborhood, whether it is located on a street or avenue and other factors).
Owning a home is the highest aspiration of many people.
Town hall house, barracks house and crib house
In addition to these meanings exposed, we have to highlight the existence of other terms that also use the word in question and that are widely used in daily life.
Thus, for example, there is what is known as the town hall . This is a word that is used to refer to the town house, that is, the town hall . Any neighbor can go to it to solve all kinds of procedures, to find out about important issues and it is also where the plenary sessions are held. These are the meetings of the mayor and councilors to address matters of interest to the municipality.
On the other hand, there is also what is called a barracks house . In Spain , as a general rule, when we talk about it, it is done to define the set of buildings where the Civil Guard works and where the members of this State security body also have the homes in which they reside with their families.
Likewise, we must not forget the nursery home . This is an institution , of great importance especially in the past, which served as a place where mothers and fathers who could not or did not want to take care of their children left them to be cared for by the nuns who were in charge of them. In this way, that building became the residence of these children, including those who were orphans, and the nuns became their relatives until they were adopted.
The origin of something and different institutions
The concept of home is also used symbolically to name the origin of something or someone and their homeland : "I'm tired of living abroad, I want to return home," "The footballer returned home and promised to retire with the club shirt" , "I'm happy here, but I miss home" .
The commercial or industrial establishment ( "They say it is the oldest house in the sector" ), the institution that brings together people with common interests or origins ( "Tomorrow there is a party at the House of Catalonia" ) and the headquarters of certain institutions ( "The president will make an announcement from the Casa Rosada" ) are other notions that are called house.