Annexes

Annexes is the plural form of annex, a term used in several related but distinct contexts to describe something added or attached to a larger whole. The common thread is that an annex extends, supplements, or is appended to an existing entity, whether a document, building, or jurisdiction.

In architecture and construction, an annex is an additional building or wing connected to a main structure. It provides extra space for offices, classrooms, or living areas and can be physically joined or linked by a passage. Annexes may be purpose-built or adapted from existing facilities and are often planned to meet functional, regulatory, or security requirements.

In political and territorial usage, annexation refers to the incorporation of territory into another state or municipality. An annexed area comes under the laws, administration, and taxation of the annexing entity. Annexations can be voluntary or compulsory, and they may raise legal, diplomatic, and local governance considerations, sometimes provoking dispute or negotiation.

In legal, administrative, and research contexts, an annex is a supplementary part attached to a document, treaty, contract, or dataset. Annexes may contain maps, charts, technical specifications, schedules, or detailed evidence, and are typically labeled (for example, Annex A, Annex 1). They are binding to the extent that the instrument to which they are attached provides for that binding effect.

Common examples include theses with annexes, city planning documents that include annexes, and international agreements with annexed schedules and maps.