Walls

Walls are vertical structural elements that enclose, separate, or protect interior spaces. They can be exterior or interior, load-bearing or non-load-bearing, and may form part of a building’s envelope or be freestanding for boundaries or partitions.

Common wall materials include stone, brick, concrete, timber, earth, and drywall. Construction methods range from traditional masonry and timber framing to reinforced concrete, steel framing with curtain walls, and masonry or plaster finishes. The choice of material and technique affects strength, fire resistance, insulation, and sound transmission.

Functions of walls include supporting loads from roofs and floors, providing privacy and security, controlling weather and air flow, and shaping spaces within architecture. Walls can also serve as retaining structures to hold back soil or earth in landscape and civil engineering projects. Interior walls partition rooms; exterior walls define the building’s outline.

Key wall types include load-bearing walls, which carry structural loads; curtain or veneer walls, which primarily enclose without bearing loads; shear walls, designed to resist lateral forces; and retaining walls, which hold back earth. Insulation and moisture barriers are often incorporated to improve energy efficiency and durability.

Historically, walls have served both practical and symbolic roles. Notable examples include the Great Wall of China, built to protect and border territories; the Western Wall, a sacred site in Jerusalem; and the Berlin Wall, a political barrier during the 20th century. Walls continue to be central to architectural practice and urban development.