Row Houses Explained
Many cities across the US are famous for their row houses. They’re synonymous with American city-living, so much so that they’ve shown up in countless beloved shows and movies—think the opening credits of Full House, set in San Francisco, or Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City arriving home to her classy Manhattan brownstone.
Take our historic city, for example, you can’t miss the quaint row houses here in Washington D.C. But what exactly is a Row house, and why are they so popular?
What is a Row house?
A Row house is (typically) a single-family home set at the same point on the property line as its neighboring units, sharing a common wall, roofline and, generally, a consistent exterior design. Row houses are generally two or three stories high, though they can have up to five stories, and are usually no wider than 12’ to 25’. Row houses commonly hold one or two families, but larger row houses can be reworked into several apartments or condos.
Row houses vs town houses and brownstones
If you are wondering what the distinction between a row house and townhouse is, there really isn’t much of one—both are attached to their neighbors. The only real difference is that townhouses might not be exactly the same—they can differ in height, stories, and width, whereas row houses are uniformly laid out. Townhomes are usually in smaller groupings, with row homes stretching full blocks and streets.
If you’ve also read about brownstones, not to worry, a brownstone is just a type of row house that’s been faced with brownstone: a type of sandstone with high mica content. The mica renders it dark brown, or brown with a reddish hue.
A brief history of the Row house
The tradition of building what we deem row houses today really solidified in Dutch and Belgian architectural styles in the 16th century and was then adopted by the English. The use of “terrace” or “terraced” homes starts showing up inspired by British garden terraces in the early 18th century to describe streets of residences with uniform fronts and height.
The first examples of row, or terraced, houses were in Carstairs Row, Philadelphia at the turn of the 19th century. Row houses were, and still are, cost-effective and efficient to build, and made the best use of space, especially on narrow lots and in cities with rapidly increasing populations.
Where you can expect to see Row houses in the U.S.
Many cities have historical, even rare, examples of row houses: New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, as well as Baltimore, D.C., Chicago, New Orleans and Boston. Each city varies in its architectural styles. For instance, Baltimore row houses often feature Formstone, a type of stucco, while Boston is famous for its Victorian brick townhouses and Federal-style row houses.
Row houses don’t only show up in America’s oldest cities, they are popular all over the country, from Denver, Colorado to St. Paul, Minnesota. The F. Scott Fitzgerald House, a brownstone where the lauded American author and his parents lived, for example, is probably the most widely known row house in the Twin Cities.
Many neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. are comprised of row homes that are considered historic structures. Some rest in the original boundaries of the city, dating back to the beginning of the 19th century. They were designed by urban planner Major Pierre Charles L’Enfant for George Washington.
Is Row house living right for you?
A large part of the appeal of a row house is the square footage it affords you in a crowded city where the other option is usually a much smaller apartment or condo. You also can’t beat the classic charm and historical integrity of a row house, which in many parts of the United States holds keys to our past and development as a country.
A few things to keep in mind are that garden and yard space are limited due to the nature of the row house, built more for efficiency than luxury (though many row houses have been modernized). There is, of course, also the neighbor factor to consider, as you do share a wall with the adjoining home.
Why are Row houses growing in popularity right now, especially in the Washington D.C. area?
Similar to why they started gaining in popularity originally both in Europe and the United States, Row houses make the best use of space on narrow lots. They involve lower building costs and land space requirements, and they are less expensive to build than detached units. Row houses also fulfill a need in the current housing market as they are appealing to couples younger than 25 or older than 55, who aren’t necessarily looking for a more standard apartment, nor a suburban single-family home. Row house renovations could include updating rooms within the existing footprint, a rear single or multi-level addition, filling in a dogleg, adding another level, or creating separate apartment units.
If you’re interested in renovating a Row house, CONTACT LANDIS to learn more about our design/build offerings.
