Philadelphia Rowhouse
The Philadelphia rowhouse is the characteristic residential building type of the city, comprising attached brick houses sharing side walls that line streets throughout Philadelphia's neighborhoods. More rowhouses exist in Philadelphia than in any other American city—over 400,000 units—making this form fundamental to the city's urban character. The rowhouse has housed Philadelphians of all classes for over two centuries, adapting through architectural styles while maintaining essential features of attached construction, party walls, and direct street access.[1]
History
[edit | edit source]Colonial Origins
[edit | edit source]Philadelphia's rowhouse tradition began in the colonial period, when attached houses in the English Georgian style lined streets near the Delaware River. These earliest surviving examples—on Elfreth's Alley and nearby streets—show the form established by the mid-eighteenth century. Colonial rowhouses were typically modest in size, with two or three stories and simple brick facades.[1]
Nineteenth-Century Expansion
[edit | edit source]The nineteenth century saw explosive rowhouse construction as Philadelphia expanded in all directions. Developers built entire blocks simultaneously, creating the uniform streetscapes that characterize many neighborhoods. Styles evolved through Federal, Greek Revival, and Victorian iterations, each adding distinctive details while maintaining the basic attached form.[1]
The nineteenth century also developed the distinctive Philadelphia rowhouse variations:
- Two-story houses — Modest workers' housing in industrial neighborhoods
- Three-story houses — Middle-class neighborhoods, often with bay windows
- Four-story houses — Larger houses in wealthy areas
- The "Trinity" — Three small rooms stacked vertically, often just one room per floor
Builders developed efficient construction methods, creating substantial quantities of housing that made Philadelphia more affordable than comparable cities.[1]
Twentieth-Century Evolution
[edit | edit source]Twentieth-century construction shifted toward three-story houses with larger rooms and modern amenities. The "daylight rowhouse," with deep light wells, improved ventilation in the home's center. Post-World War II construction in Northeast Philadelphia and other expanding areas continued the rowhouse tradition in newer styles.[1]
Characteristics
[edit | edit source]Construction
[edit | edit source]Traditional Philadelphia rowhouses are built of load-bearing brick, with party walls shared between adjacent houses. The walls, typically three wythes (layers) thick, provide structural support, sound separation, and fire resistance. Wooden floor joists span between party walls, with plaster ceilings below and wooden floors above.[1]
Layout
[edit | edit source]The typical layout places living spaces at the front, with dining rooms behind and kitchens at the rear. Bedrooms occupy upper floors, with bathrooms (added later in older houses) on upper floors or in rear extensions. Basements provide storage and utility space. Variations in width and depth accommodate different lot sizes and price points.[1]
Exterior Details
[edit | edit source]Facades reflect their era's styles:
- Georgian and Federal — Symmetrical facades, simple brick, minimal ornament
- Greek Revival — Marble trim, bold doorways, classical details
- Italianate — Bracketed cornices, tall windows, brownstone trim
- Victorian — Bay windows, decorative brickwork, varied colors
These stylistic differences create visual variety within the consistent rowhouse form.[1]
Contemporary Significance
[edit | edit source]Philadelphia's rowhouse stock provides relatively affordable housing compared to comparable northeastern cities. The density of rowhouse neighborhoods supports walkable urbanism with local retail and transit access. Contemporary interest in urban living has increased demand for rowhouses, driving renovation and rising prices in desirable areas while vacant rowhouses challenge other neighborhoods.[1]
The maintenance and renovation of rowhouses requires understanding of traditional construction. Party wall agreements, masonry maintenance, and system updates present challenges particular to attached housing. Organizations including the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia provide guidance for rowhouse owners.[1]