Episode Details

What exactly defines a townhouse? In this episode of pplpod, we explore the vertical history of this architectural staple. We trace the townhouse back to its origins in 18th-century Britain, where it served as the city residence for wealthy families and landowners during the social season.

We break down the architectural distinctions that separate a true townhouse from its close cousin, the rowhouse, noting that while rowhouses are typically uniform and adjacent, townhouses generally imply a more luxurious, individually owned dwelling. We also tackle the common confusion between "townhouses" and "condos," explaining how one refers to the physical structure while the other refers to the type of ownership.

Finally, we take a global look at how the term evolves across borders, from the "brownstones" of New York City to the high-security luxury complexes found in Asia and Australia.

Key Topics:

• The Definition: Multi-floor living on a small footprint.

• The History: How aristocrats used townhouses as secondary city homes away from their country estates.

• The Terminology: Understanding the difference between freehold and condominium ownership.

• Global Variations: From British terraces to ultra-expensive units in Hong Kong.