Having worked in communities big and small across the continent, we’ve had ample opportunity to test ideas and find approaches that work best. Urban design details. Outreach tactics. Implementation tricks. Many of these lessons are transferable, which is why we’ve created “Back of the Envelope,” a weekly feature where we jot ’em down for your consideration.

The townhouse, or rowhouse, is a traditional urban approach to density that, somewhat ironically, has been embraced by suburban builders. Over time, this once simple and elegant species has evolved (some might say devolved) to reflect its newfound environment, becoming “squeezed” in its appearance, with little bits and pieces protruding — wiggling — in the oddest of ways.

Having recently acquired the stature of fifty years on this earth, I’ve learned one must be judicious with one’s wiggle to maintain a degree of dignity. Over the course of the same period, however, suburban townhouse developers have failed to acquire the same wisdom.

The form’s contemporary suburban architectural expression has (d)evolved from historically restrained, community-minded massing to the highly articulated, erratic, look-at-me forms we know today. Like their single family brethren, the over-articulated McMansion, suburban townhouses reflect the need for the building to compensate for a lack of beauty and interest in the streetscape. In contrast, in more urban areas that have rowhouses, the continuity of the fabric of the street is embraced as important to the success of the public realm as a whole.

In newer traditional neighborhoods, suburban retrofits, and infill sites, it’s critical that builders rediscover the idea of streets, rather than single structures, as the amenity. This historic example in Covington, Kentucky, illustrates the elegance and harmony that a virtually flat façade contributes to the street (though Daniel Libeskind’s massing in the distance is a bit of a shock). In these strained economic times, it’s more than just a question of style, as builders can find great savings in simpler forms, foundations, and trusses. Imagine the cost benefits of building the plan below as a simple rectangle, then imagine the savings reallocated to improved façade materials and better doors and windows.

           

Lose the wiggle. Here’s five tips on townhouse restraint:

• Keep the façade flat. This saves on cost and frees budget for improved windows and materials.
• Resist non-rational articulation. Use simple solutions like porches, stoops, balconies or bay windows to provide interest while you develop faith in the attraction of the street itself.
• For fee-simple rowhouses, separate the roofs with parapets. For condominiums, the straight roof is fine.
• Break the parcels with passages mid-block. This permits easy access to the alley behind while providing two additional end units with additional light. However, avoid the temptation for frequent breaks as this begins to confuse the building type with less urban ones.
• The parking MUST occur in the rear with parallel on-street spaces for guests. This model depends entirely on the beauty of the public realm and can be destroyed by dominant parking stalls.

–Susan Henderson

If PlaceShakers is our soapbox, our Facebook page is where we step down, grab a drink and enjoy a little conversation. Looking for a heads-up on the latest community-building news and perspective from around the web? Click through and “Like” us and we’ll keep you in the loop.