A
house is a
building that functions as a
home, ranging from simple
dwellings such as rudimentary
huts of
nomadic tribes and the improvised
shacks in
shantytowns to complex, fixed structures of wood, brick, marble or other materials containing plumbing, ventilation and electrical systems. Most conventional modern houses in Western cultures will contain a
bedroom,
bathroom,
kitchen or cooking area, and a
living room. In traditional agriculture-oriented societies,
domestic animals such as chickens or larger livestock (like cattle) may share part of the house with humans. The social unit that lives in a house is known as a
household. Most commonly, a household is a
family unit of some kind, although households may also be other
social groups or individuals. The design and structure of the house is also subject to change as a consequence of globalization, urbanization and other social, economic, demographic, and technological reasons. Various other cultural factors also influence the building style and patterns of domestic space.