footprint area
The total surface area occupied, covered, or overhung by a built object, including its projecting elements.
The footprint area for any built object is the total area of land, water, or other surface area either occupied, overhung, or otherwise covered by that built object. This includes any podiums, wings, additions, or overhanging elements, but it does not include plazas, courtyards, or basement areas that extend beyond the perimeter.
An area is only comparable alongside the standard it was measured to. National measuring codes differ over balconies, atrium voids and shafts, so two published figures for one building can both be correct.
A figure that covers a complex rather than a single building is a different measurement again. Where a tower shares a podium, the record has to say whether the podium is inside the figure.
Related definitions
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GIF rental area
The rental floor area measured according to the standards of Gesellschaft für Immobilienwirtschaftliche Forschung. -
area
The total land and water surface belonging to and occupied by an object or geographic entity. -
construction area
The total amount of built floor space occupied by solid structural elements like columns, walls, and doors. -
gross floor area
The total area of all interior spaces within an object, including occupied, common, and utility areas. -
lot area
The total area of the land property associated with a built object, including the area occupied by its footprint. -
minimum rentable area
The smallest division of floor space available for rent or lease within a structure. -
photovoltaic area
The total surface area of the photovoltaic panels installed on a structure. -
rental area
The cumulative built floor area available for rental or lease, including vacant space and excluding shared common areas. -
total available space
The floor space available to prospective users, including vacant space and occupied space to be vacated. -
total facade area
The total area of all parts of a structure's facade, not counting minor indentations. -
total roof area
The total area of all parts of a structure's roof, including flat and sloping sections. -
usable floor area
The enclosed interior floor area of a built object, excluding the space occupied by fixed walls, columns, and other structural elements. -
window-to-wall ratio
The percentage of a building's facade occupied by transparent or translucent glazing that admits light.