BUILDING is also used for constructing and raising an edifice; in which sense it comprehends as well the expenses, as the invention and execution of the design. There are three things chiefly to be con sidered in the art of building, viz. Um venience, firmness, and delight. To ac complish which ends, Sir H. Wotton con siders the subject under these two heads, thy. situation, and the work. A-, to the si tuation, either that of the whole is to be considered, or that of its parts. In the first, regard must be had to the quality, temperature, and salubrity of the air ; to the quality of the soil ; to the conveniency of water, fuel, carriage; &c. and to the agreeableness of the prospect. As to the situation of the parts, the chief rooms, studies, and libraries, should lie towards the east ; those offices which require heat, as kitchens, brew-houses, bake-houses, and di stillatories, towards the south; those which require a cool fresh air, as cellars, pantries, granaries, to the north ; as also galleries for paintings, museums, &c. which require a steady light. The ancient Greeks and Romans generally situated the fronts of their houses towards the south ; but the modern Italians vary much from this rule. And indeed, as to this matter, regard must still be had to the country, each being obliged to provide against its own inconveniences.
The situation being fixed on, the next thing to be considered is the work itself, under which come first the principal parts, and next the accessaries or ornaments. To the principals belong the materials, and the form or disposition.
Modern buildings are, in general, much more commodious and beautiful than those of former times. Compactness and uniformity are now so much attended to, that a house built after the new way will afford, on the same ground, double the conveniences which could be had in an old one.
In this article we shall give an account of the principal parts of a building, be ginning with the foundation.
Foundation, is the trench or trenches excavated out of the ground, in order to rest the edifice firmly on its base. The trenches should be sunk till they come to an uniform firm texture of ground, or to the solid rock : but when there is no pros pect of a firm and uniform bed of gravel, clay, or rock, then recourse must be had to an artificial foundation.
If the ground is tolerably firm, lay transverse pieces of oak, called sleepers, about two feet distant from each other, firmly on the ground ; having their upper surface level with the bottom of the trench, and their length equal to its breadth, or about two feet longer than the width of the intended masonry at the bottom of the wall : over these lay planks in the length of the foundation to the breadth of the masonry, where it is to be in contact with the ground, and pin or spike them down.
But if the ground be very bad, provide piles of wood, of such length that they may be able to reach the sound ground, and of such thickness as to be about a twelfth part of their length,and drive these either close to each other, or with inter stices, such as the soil may require, and fix planks to their heads or upper ends.
If the ground be generally sound. turn arches over the loose places. 'When nar row piers are to stand upon the founda tion, inverted arches might be turned be low the apertures, in order to present a greater surface of resistance to the ground. When the outer walls of a build ing are piled, the inner ones must be so likewise, that the whole may stand uni formly firm, without the possibility of one wall sinking from another.
If narrow piers are to support a great structure, planks should be placed below, in order to prevent the piers from pene trating the ground. If a building is founded upon an inclined plane, the trenches should be made like steps, hav ing their upper surfaces level, and the risings perpendicular.
Forced earth is unfit for a foundation for a considerable time.