MCRP 12-10B.1, page 344

3. Floor Plans. Floor plans in buildings follow predictable patterns. One of the factors that determines floor plans is building shape (Figure I-17). The basic principle governing building shape is that rooms normally have access to outside light. This principle helps Marines to analyze and determine the floor plans of large buildings. 4. Residential Areas. The two basic types of houses in the western world are located in and around cities and in rural areas. City-type houses are normally mass-construction brick buildings. Rural-type buildings in the continental United States, South America, and Southeast Asia are commonly made of wood, while in continental Europe, Southwest Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, where wood is extremely scarce, rural buildings are normally constructed of concrete blocks. Rural-type buildings can also be found within cities (Figure I-18). Figure I-17. Building Shapes and Sizes Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain I - 11