Definition of building unit

[bahimc]

During the first thematic webinar, there was a discussion on how ‘Building unit’ should be defined. By looking at OSLO, BUNI and INSPIRE and in an attempt to be all-encompassing, the following definition was proposed:

“The smallest unit within a building that is suitable and adapted for residential, commercial or recreational purposes and which is accessible through its own lockable access from the outside or from a common area. A building unit is atomic, functionally independent, and may be separately sold, rented out, inherited, etc. In addition, a building unit can also be a common part.”

Following items were discussed:

• Is “parking” a building unit or not? There is a distinction between a parking lot, parking place and a (underground) parking with different parking spaces.
• Should it always be possible for a building unit to be sold, rented or inherited separately?
• Are all building units lockable, and therefore should it be maintained as part of the definition?

Should you have any additional comments, do not hesitate to respond to this thread.

[yarondassonneville]

As stated in the meeting report it was proposed to remove the description of ‘purposes’ to make the definition less restrictive. Next to that it was also agreed to remove the lockable access part out of the definition.

Based on the discussions that were held and the agreements, this is the adapted definition for Building Unit:

“The smallest unit within a building that is suitable and adapted for various purposes and which is accessible from the outside or from a common area. A building unit is atomic, functionally independent, and may be separately sold, rented out, inherited, etc. In addition, a building unit can also be a common part.”

Should you have any additional comments, do not hesitate to respond to this thread.

[job66]

Just a few thoughts, combining some comments of other topics. Construction and construction unit might be a more polyvalent naming and or (abstract) super class. It covers the exceptions mentioned up till now. For parking spaces the construction is limited to construction work at floor level. Most of the audience expect a building to be 'enclosed'. The specification of atomic and functional independency in the definition remains.

[yarondassonneville]

Thank you for the input Johan. We want to refer you also to the issue regarding the more generic concept ‘construction’. Construction is seen as an abstract concept overseeing building and building unit. What we are modeling here is a building (unit) and its intrinsic values, not a construction.

We agree to the notion of an abstract super class, but won’t model it as out of scope (see also the charter). Regarding the naming, it’s a superclass so we still need Building on a less abstract level.

For sure we will take this input with us in modeling ICEG building and to the next webinar.

[bahimc]

This issue can be considered closed as the changes were made and discussed during the previous webinars.