TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDING/ STRUCTURES

A residential building is a building containing separate residences

where a person may live or regularly stay. Residential building are
often constructed to ensure residents’ safety, comfort, and
privacy. They include essential living spaces and facilities to
accommodate basic needs of the residents. These buildings can
range from single-family homes to multi-unit structures such as
apartments, condominiums, or townhouses.

• SINGLE-DETACHED DWELLING

A FREE-STANDING RESIDENTIAL BUILDING. ALSO CALLED A SINGLE-FAMILY

DETACHED HOME, SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE (SFR), OR SEPARATE HOUSE. It
does not have any shared walls; however, it may have an attached
or a detached garage.

• SINGLE-ATTACHED OR DUPLEX

A HOME ATTACHED TO ONE PROPERTY LINE AND HAS A FIREWALL/PARTY

WALL. IN CONTRAST, A DETACHED HOME MEANS THAT A HOME IS FREE OF ANY
SHARED WALLS AND STANDS ALONE.

• ROWHOUSE

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.

• WALK-UP APARTMENT

A LOW-RISE APARTMENT BUILDING is an individual dwelling unit, an

apartment building contains three or more living units with
independent bathroom and cooking facilities. An apartment building
may also have an on-site property manager depending on the
occupancy and size of the building. Apartment buildings may be
referred to as apartment houses, condominiums, or garden
apartments.

• SHOPHOUSE

A SHOPHOUSE IS A VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURAL BUILDING TYPE COMMONLY

SEEN IN AREAS SUCH AS URBAN SOUTHEAST ASIA. SHOPHOUSE ARE MOSTLY
TWO OR THREE STORIES HIGH, WITH A SHOP ON THE GROUND FLOOR FOR
MERCANTILE ACTIVITY AND A RESIDENCE ABOVE THE SHOP.

• TOWNHOUSES

A TYPE OF TERRACED HOUSING, OFTEN ONE WITH A SMALL FOOTPRINT ON

MULTIPLE TIMES FLOORS, with one or two shared walls, and a rooftop
deck or a small yard space. It is OFTEN NON-UNIFORM AND LARGER AND
MORE LUXURIOUS THAT ROWHOUSES.

• CONDOMINIUM

A condominium or condo is a single unit within a larger building or

community and popular in urban high-density areas with many
restaurants and shops. It shares a wall or two with other units and
generally has a HOA requiring residents to pay monthly or annual
dues.

• HOSTEL

An inexpensive lodging facility for usually young travelers that

typically has dormitory-style sleeping arrangements and
sometimes offers meals and planned activities. The purpose of a
hostel building is to provide accommodation for individuals,
typically students or travelers, who require temporary or long-
term housing.
• EMERGENCY HOUSING

The primary purpose of emergency housing or shelter is to provide

short-term accommodation for people who are in a crisis or
homeless. An emergency housing facility offers minimal supportive
services, such as a place to shower, sleep, or do laundry.

• FARMHOUSE

A farmhouse is a dwelling built on a farm or rural land for the

inhabitants, away from their usual residence. Farmhouses also have
barns near them and are surrounded by greenery. Farmhouse
architecture provides relaxation and warmth in a farm or a
landscaped setting for the occupants.

• MIXED-USE BUILDING

A mixed-use building blends commercial, residential, entertainment,

and even industrial uses into one space. Examples include a single-
family home with a dentist’s office on the ground floor and a big
apartment building with office or retail space on the lower floors
of the building.

• PENTHOUSE

A penthouse is a small dwelling built on the upper floor (rooftop)

of a building. It is a comfortable accommodation unit with a
surrounding outdoor area and usually designed differently from
other residential units in the same building.