Final answer:
Any area of a building with its floor subgrade on all sides is considered a basement. Basements are contrasted with other types of spaces in buildings like the ground floor, mezzanine, and penthouse. Construction of these spaces follows an organized process starting from the foundation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Any area of a building which has its floor subgrade (below ground) on all sides is typically considered a basement. This is the space that is often either partially or completely below the ground floor and is used for a variety of purposes such as storage, living space, or as utility areas.
Architecturally, there are different types of spaces in buildings, such as the ground floor, which is the floor that's at ground level; a mezzanine, which is a partial floor between two main floors of a building; and a penthouse, which is an apartment or unit on the top floor of a building. In the context of the given question, a basement is the correct term to describe a space that is subgrade on all sides.
The design and layout of living accommodations, like the presence of a basement, can vary widely depending on cultural preferences and economic status, as reflected in the historical preferences for housing in British cities and apartment buildings in France and the United States. Construction practices always follow a systematic process, beginning with the foundation and progressing upward, with spaces like basements being part of the initial construction before the upper floors.