Demolition is the science and engineering in safely and efficiently tearing down of buildings and other artificial structures. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for reuse purposes.
A partially demolished house in Qormi, Malta
A house under demolition in Argos, Greece.
A vacant plot of land in Argos, Greece, after the demolition of the house in the above photo.
A wrecking ball in action at the demolition of the Rockwell Gardens.
Deconstruction (building)
In the context of physical construction, deconstruction is the selective dismantlement of building components, specifically for reuse, repurposing, recycling, and waste management. It differs from demolition where a site is cleared of its building by the most expedient means. Deconstruction has also been defined as "construction in reverse". Deconstruction requires a substantially higher degree of hands-on labor than does traditional demolition, but as such provides a viable platform for unskilled or unemployed workers to receive job skills training. The process of dismantling structures is an ancient activity that has been revived by the growing fields of sustainable and green building.
Deconstruction of a building.
Dismantling the Deutsche Bank Building in January 2008.