Zgradba

Zgradba is a Slovenian noun meaning structure or building. In architecture, civil engineering, and urban planning it denotes the physical construct, including its exterior form, internal layout, and the bearing framework. The term is also used in broader contexts to refer to the structure of complex systems, organizations, or groups.

Etymology: the word derives from the verb zgraditi, to build, with the suffix -ba that forms a noun. It belongs to the common family of words related to construction and shape in Slovenian, and has cognates in other Slavic languages.

Usage in architecture: the zgradba highlights the planned construction and interrelation of load-bearing elements. It can refer to the whole edifice or to its structural network, such as the foundation, walls, columns, beams, and roof. In everyday language, stavba is more often used for the finished building; zgradba emphasizes the structure and organization of components.

Other contexts: outside physical buildings, zgradba denotes the arrangement of parts in non-architectural domains, including the organizational structure of a company or the architecture of a theory or program. The term is common in technical, educational, and planning literature.

See also: konstrukcija, stavba, arhitektura, organizacijska struktura.