anbau

Anbau is a German noun with two main meanings that share a common idea of adding or bringing something into use. It can refer to an architectural extension or annex attached to an existing building, as well as to the cultivation or growing of crops in agriculture or gardening. The intended meaning is usually clear from context.

The term derives from the verb anbauen, formed from the prefix an- plus bauen, literally “to build onto.” In farming and horticulture, the sense evolved from bringing land into cultivation by preparing and using it for crops.

In architecture and construction, a building Anbau is an additional structure connected to a main building, typically a single-story wing that enlarges usable space without changing the building’s original height. Anbau projects from the main footprint and may house a kitchen, living room, storage, or other facilities. The concept is distinct from Aufstockung, which refers to adding vertical height, or from Umbau, which means renovation or conversion of parts of a building.

In agriculture and gardening, Anbau denotes the cultivation of crops or the act of growing plants. It can also refer to the cultivated area itself, expressed as Anbaufläche, and to cultivation practices, including seasonal cropping and organic farming, with terms such as biologischer Anbau or ökologischer Anbau commonly used.

In usage, Anbau is translated according to context: as annex/extension in architectural contexts, and as cultivation or farming in agricultural contexts.