What is a typology in architectural terms? Provide three residential and three public typologies.

• A. Typology is classification of buildings by function and form; residential: single-family house, townhouse, apartment building; public: library, courthouse, museum.
• B. Typology is a classification by color and texture; residential: villa, bungalow, mansion; public: stadium, theater, cinema.
• C. Typology is the study of building materials; residential: brick, wood, concrete; public: steel, glass, composite.
• D. Typology is a method of budgeting building projects; residential: cost per square foot, cost per room, cost per level; public: maintenance, operation, replacement.

Answer: (A)

Typology in architecture means the systematic classification of buildings by their function and form, helping us group designs that share similar purposes and spatial arrangements. Three residential typologies are single-family house, townhouse, and apartment building. Three public typologies are library, courthouse, and museum. This fits the idea because each example represents a common category of built form defined by how it’s used and how its spaces are organized. The other options describe classifications by color/texture, materials, or budgeting, which aren’t the architectural idea of typology.