Introduction

This case studies goes into the subject of town house, describing the difficulties and strengths it
has in the rapidly changing modern world. Through different elements, such as strategies or
innovations we seek to dig out the information that can improve best practices and decision-
making.

We will consider the main questions related to list specific research questions or objectives
through methods or data sources. The core purpose of this analysis is to deliver the findings that
are easy to implement, thereby students can use it, as a result, there will be a more
comprehensive understanding of the broader implications for the field.

Case Study selection criteria

There are many criteria we use in selecting for the case studies here are some criteria s:
1. climatic condition:The climatic condition is one criteria for the selection, for example hot
climate is chosen based on our site climate.
2. Material choice: materials used in the building is considered.
3. Design technologies: If design technologies like passive solar design, natural ventilation,
green building technologies such as green roof, sustainable materials etc…are used.
4. Economic Viability: if the houses are economical and balanced according to our economic.
5. Learning Potential: Ability to yield important lessons.
6. Richness of data: The availability of comprehensive and diverse data sources (qualitative
and quantitative) is crucial for in-depth analysis.

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Case 1
RB9 Townhouses
•Location: TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN
• Architects: ARC Architects
• Area: 1050 m²
• Year: 2020
• Manufacturers: AutoDesk, Benjamin Moore
• Design Team: Bobir Klichev,Roman Lysenko,Farrukh
Shadmanov, Firdavs Razakov
• Engineering: Nuritdin Boltaev
• City: Tashkent
• Country: Uzbekistan
Climate and topography
In Tashkent, the summers are hot, arid, and clear and the winters are
very cold, snowy, and partly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the
temperature typically varies from 28°F to 96°F and is rarely below
16°F or above 103°F.

Townhouses are located in one of the central mahallas (residential

quarter) of Tashkent. There are 5 houses on the site, which have 2
types of layouts with alternation. The total area of one house is 390
m2.
Fig: site plan Legend
Main road
Secondary
road

Description:
-The wind comes from the north direction according to this
the rooms at the side of north has a sliding door for
ventilation purpose
-The sun is at the south east therefore to this they have used
brick facade in addition to aesthetic appeals

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plans

Ground floor first floor

Second floor terrace floor

Ground Floor have parking,summer kitchen and courtyard in each houses
First floor have Living Area with a kitchen living room, dinning room and a terrace overlooking
the courtyard
Second Floor have Bed rooms with bath room and terrace
Third Floor is a roof top that have laundry room and terrace

front rear

fig:elevation and section

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 Legend
Public space
Private space
Semi-private space
Description:
-the houses is oriented critically
ground f first floor

-The two diagrams (second floor plans) show how they orient
based on privacy and noise
-but in some degree there is space conflict in the first floor, the
private space can be after the semi private

Adjacency Matrix
description:
 In this matrix we see the rooms adjacency , direct adjacent rooms are
close together even with out no wall
 The stairs in each floor is direct adjacent to the rooms in the floor
 But there is some not adjacent rooms in it(study room and each bed rooms).

Bubble diagrams
 Diagrams show the
rooms size and priority
 There is good relation in
the rooms
 the rooms are lay-outed
based on user(user-center
layout)

First floor Second floor

Ground floor

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Circulation
Description:
• The horizontal circulation have efficient function and it has straight
path
• Try to minimize the circulation space for to maximizing the rooms
space
• Use Corridors: Long, narrow spaces that connect different rooms.
• Verandas: Covered areas that provide transition between indoor and
outdoor spaces.

Vertical circulation
• The vertical circulation have two stairs in the back and in the middle of the
building
• The middle stair the main path that connect all storey
• The back stair use for private path that connect the ground kitchen to the
first floor kitchen
• They use dog leg stair for minimizing the path
Materials and technology
Primary material used in RB9 town house is Brick. brick is completely
weather proof, even in extreme conditions such as storms, and because bricks
do not contain plant matter they are resistant to pests and won't decay in hot or humid conditions.

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Case study 2
Emerson Rowhouse / Meridian 105 Architecture
Houses, HousingDenver,
Location- United StatesArchitects: Meridian 105
Architecture
Area: 1650 m2
Year: 2015General Contractor: White Construction
Interior Designer: Heltshe Interior Design
Civil: Roth Engineering Group
Structural Engineer: Studio 818
The Emerson Rowhouse development is situated in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood at
the intersection of 13th and Emerson Street. The property has a distinctive urban context to it,
with 13th Street serving as bustling transportation corridor bisecting this City’s art district only a
few blocks to the West. From the property, residents can access several of the City’s premier
museums, including the Denver Art Museum, the recently completed Clyfford Still Museum, and
the Colorado History Center. From the rooftops, view corridors connect residents to the
downtown skyline, the Capitol Dome, and to the Rocky Mountains.
Site plan
 Wind from north direction can enter easily and ventlate the
building
 In some extent the building exposed to harsh sun, the long
side of the building

Ground Floor have Garage,Bed room, half bath, Closet

-here the garage is at the back side,it is
inappropriate to put at the back, but they put
it to decrease noise
First plan Have Living Room, Kichen,
Dining Room, Half Bath
Second plan Have Bed Room, Bath, M Bed
Room, Closet, M. Bath
Roof Top Has A Roof Deck

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Elevation and sections
 Front and rear facades
Are simmetrical and grid
 Horizontal and vertical
components to create balance
Zoning Diagram
 Each floors are divided based on privacy Legend
ground-semi,first-public,second-private
Private
 But In the ground floor there is space conflict
Public
 Zones are disturbed by centeral stair
Semi
Bubble Diagram
-in the bubble diagram, the rooms are adjacent enough
-in all floors one or two rooms are given priority
- accessibility is not difficult
Material
-concrete-structure element and it’s
thermal mass material
-wood-it’s the most sustainable material and in this building
it uses to blend with the environment and for aqustic use
Circulation -steel-for it structural integrity steel is used
- white painting -make rooms wide and bright

Ground First

Second terrace
Vertical circulation

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 Challenges in these site
1. The site position, the front facade is exposed to harsh sun
2. .the garage and bed room conflict in the ground floor
3. There is noise come from out side cars
Solutions
1. They use trees for the harsh sun in
2. They try to separate the rooms by adding rooms between them but it’s not enough

3. They use sound insulating materials like wood to decrease it.

Case study 3
Row house in oyodo
▪location-in Sumiyoshi, Osaka, Japan
▪ Architect- designed by Tadao Ando in 1976.
▪ One of Ando's first small-scale residential projects.
▪ built area-65 m2
and light, challenging everyday life's inertia.
▪ Replaces traditional wooden houses in the area with a
concrete box, creating a contrast.
Style - brutalism
Site plan

 The harsh sun on the site is in

the south direction which is the
front side of the building.

 The wind direction on the site

is comes from the north direction which is the rear
side of the building
 The site is near major road area

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Concept & Brief
▪Self-sufficient living space within a concrete box.
▪ Individual privacy, a belief in the house's ability
to
change society.
▪ Axially symmetrical composition, tripartition applied to the building.
▪ Integration of nature in the city, creating a lifestyle in
coexistence with nature.

Bubble diagram
 The bubble diagram shows the arrangement
of the rooms in the given floors the larger
bubbles representing broader rooms and the
smaller room representing small rooms the
arrows shows the level of adjacency
between the rooms. the bold arrow shows
strong adjacency while the small one shows
weaker .

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 The rooms area arranged efficiently for both function and circulation
 The colors indicate specific function while the red color shows private area shows
blue-semi privacy and yellow shows public

Zoning diagram

 The ground floor plan layout is designed to

Maximize the functionality and publicity, mostly they
Public spaces.
 The first floor is designed to maximize privacy, most
of them are rivate spaces
 Red-shows privacy,blue-semi privacy,yellow-public

Legend
Circulation Private
Ground first Public
 The horizontal and vertical circulation is straight Semi
 All rooms are easily accessible

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 Light and ventilation
 the building style is
brutalism(which are commonly
concrete with out finishing
material and mostly they have
deficiency of light), The
architect uses the
Open space(void) for lighting and
ventilation.
 The rooms are well lighted
 All over the house is ventilated by
The opening sucks in the walls
 But some rooms are artefitially
lighted
Facade treatment
 The facade gets harsh sun to some extent
 They use plants to protect the facade and to make it natural
(integrate with nature).
 But it must be maintained carefully because it can crack it

Challenges solution

 most rooms are difficult to get light - create open down

 Some rooms are missed (master bath) -they use tri-partition make few rooms
 Front facade is exposed to harsh sun -create greenery

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Case study 4 (local)

Row house in Addis Ababa

⦁ This row house is found in Jemo Addis Ababa
⦁ Built in area 120m square for each house
⦁ Its currently under construction it's one of Enyi real-estate project
Site plan

 The site is rich in natural vegetation protecting the site from heat and giving it
comfortable air condition
 The site is found isolated from the city, so it has less noise distraction
 The front side of the house is located on the east side of the house having access to the
morning sun set
 The harsh sun strikes the house on the southwest making that side of the house blind
wall
BUBBLE DIAGRAM
Ground floor bubble diagram
floor bubble diagram

 The bubble diagram shows the

arrangement of the rooms in the given
floors the larger bubbles representing
broader rooms and the smaller room
representing small rooms. The arrows
show the level of adjacency between the rooms.
ground First floor

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 The bold arrow shows strong adjacency while the small one shows weaker.
 The rooms area arranged efficiently for both function and circulation
 The colors indicate specific function while the red color shows private area the
yellow colors show public area

ZONNING DIAGRAM
on the ground floor more of the space are public areas
and easy to access. On the first floor more of the spaces
are private Legend

Private

FLOOR PLANS Public

The ground floor includes space like living area ,
dining area, open and traditional kitchens respectively ,
laundry, 2 bathrooms and stair. the living area is placed
facing east side gaining natural light striking first in the
sunset its also had green area in front used for natural air
conditioning and provides good view .

The first floor includes spaces like master bedroom,

master bath room ,closet , second and third bedrooms , common bathroom and balcony.
The balcony , master bedrooms and the second bedroom are placed on the east side
facing green area in front and having access to sunrise in the morning

CIRCULATION

The wider doorways at the intrance makes it accessible,

and enhance accessibility promoting interaction and
improving overall flow.

LIGHT AND
VENTELATION
The house gets access to light
and ventilation naturally
through the window
placements orientation of the
house in relation to the sun.

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CHALLANGES AND SOLUTION
The area is located separately from the city making it
 Limited Public Transportation Options Residents in less accessible areas may have
limited access to public transportation, making it difficult to commute to work, school, or
essential services.
 Poorly lit streets and public spaces can lead to safety concerns for residents, particularly
during nighttime hours
Solution:
 Implementing shuttle services or community transit options can also improve access.
 Consider community policing initiatives or neighborhood watch programs to improve
security
CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM
 In this row house they use on site construction system.
 It's easier to renovate or add to existing structures that were built on-site and Builders have
greater control over the design and can tailor the project to specific requirements
 But Delivery costs, frequent travel, and accommodation for tradespeople can add up.

Case 5
Amé 236 Housing
Architects: lavalle and peniche
architects
 Area: 2136 m²
 Year: 2018
 Lead Architect: Luis Alejando
Peniche Arroyo, José Carlos
Lavalle Alonzo

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Concept and brief
site
It is located in the city of Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, within a
residential housing area, on a regular perimeter of 50 x 40 m. The
main façade faces west, receiving the greatest solar incidence.
Scheme
An architectural scheme is proposed in the form of
a “Pinwheel”, allowing 4 residential modules to be
placed around a central space, which organizes,
integrates and provides ventilation and lighting to
each of the components.
Solid volumes for service spaces and open
horizontal planes for served spaces.

 The site are accesssible

 Wind is come from east direction

Floor plans
Ground floor plan first floor plan

The first stage or block was planned for small families of three members and is resolved in
two levels that adapt to the urban scale and relate in a linear and perpendicular manner to the

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street, which marks the access to the project, opening to the north and leading the user to the
second block.
The second and third blocks turn counterclockwise in order to look for the best orientation and to
connect with the context while having greater height and still respecting the scale of the area.
These buildings offer three types of housing focused on newly married couples, single adults or
university students.
The last block rotates as well, placing itself parallel to the road in a volume of one level, which
takes the scale of the immediate surroundings, generating an open trade towards the street,
offering a tree-lined square to the city and a common rooftop for users of the building and the
community.
Elevation

zoning diagrams
Ground floor plan first floor plan roof plan

Legend
Private
Public
Semi

Bubble diagrams
ground First

 Diagrams show the rooms size and priority

 There is good relation in the rooms
 the rooms are lay-outed based on user(user-center layout)

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Vertical circulation
• The vertical circulation have two
stairs in the back and in the middle of
the building
• The middle stair the main path that
connect all storey
• The back stair use for private path that connect the ground kitchen to the first floor kitchen
• They use dog leg stair for minimizing the path
section

Facade treatment
The row houses Facade is modern and minimalist with:
1. Massing: A single rectangular massing to the street.
2. Proportion: Windows, balconies and entryways are in
proportion to each other.
3. Material: A light coloured textured material (concrete)
4. Windows: Windows are placed to allow for natural light
and ventilation and privacy, creating a rhythm to the facade.
5. Balconies and Overhangs: Add depth and functionality and architectural interest.
Overall the facade is simple and clean lines, modern urban design.
Interiors

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 Light and ventilation
Each rooms are lighted and ventlated d effectively
Some rooms are dark and not ventilated

Synthesis of Findings

Common Themes
Across case studies of townhouse projects, several design elements, materials, and structural
approaches emerge. These commonalities reflect a focus on maximizing space, enhancing
sustainability, and fostering community. Here’s a summary of these key aspects:
 Open floor plan - Many townhouses utilize open layouts to create a sense of spaciousness
and improve flow between living areas.
 Few programs: the spaces are compacted so there are few programs in each programs
 Open down: these element include in almost all cases for light and ventilation
 Natural light-windows and open downs are frequently used to maximize Light and widen
rooms
 Ventilation-in most cases there is open down involved to ventilate the rooms
 Sustainable materials-the use of sustainable materials is prevalent, wood and, brick and
concrete are mostly used
 Natural finishes- In the cases architects often select finishes that evoke a connection to
nature, such as stone or brick textures, which help create a warm and inviting atmosphere
within urban settings.
 On site construction-in most cases projects are use on site construction because of its
flexibility and transportation
 Vertical expansion-In regions with a high population density, built forms that have height
like stacked units or multi-storied configurations are the design solutions to optimize the
living area without increasing the space.

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Challenges and Solutions: common design challenges in townhouse projects and innovative
solutions implemented in case studies.
There are many challenges in town house design but the major challenges are:

1.Maximizing spaces: – The functional flow of a townhouse needs to be planned in such as

way that the maximum living area can be utilize from minimum available space as well. Here is
what I could gather from a couple of case studies and some design principles regarding their
strategies.

-Minimize Public Areas- By shrinking the size of hallways and public places, there more
square footage available in living areas. For example, replacing a regular stair with compact
stair can free up substantial space which allows bigger rooms and improved circulation1.

-Zoning by functionality: Grouping spaces into focused functional zones (living, dining,
relaxing, etc.) creates flow. This could be accomplished by way of open floor plans or by
establishing designated areas utilizing rugs/furniture placement to influence the movement.

-Decrease programs in each floor: in case 3 there is 3-5 programs per floor, it makes
rooms mare accessible.

2. stair designs: stair types can influence the spaces and circulation. In most cases they use
straight stairs to maximize space.
3. Sustainability:

In case 1-they use sustainable materials Like brick and

In case 2-they use materials, wood to make sustainable it

In case 3-they integrate greenery and the shape itself is sustainable(rectangle box).

4. Security and privacy: as a regulation windows can’t be opened in side and the orient
staggered( not equally placed).

Implications for Student Projects

Space Efficiency: Promote small and thin micro-townhouses which fit two or more homes on a
single lot without losing livability, effective land use.

Creative Planning Styles – focus on maximizing the livable space with minimal public spaces
while also using compact stair planning ideas.

Sustainable Practices:

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Green Materials: Use eco-friendly stuff and energy saving methods to attract environmentally
aware customers.

Designing for Community: Design shared spaces and areas to promote social interaction and
neighborhood cohesiveness.

Regulatory Navigation:

Know The Zoning Regulations: Teach students local regulations so they learn to creatively work
within constraints while creating something new.

By applying these insights, students can create townhouse projects that effectively address
urban living challenges, promote sustainability, and enhance community engagement,
preparing them for future trends in housing design.

Recommendation for student project

-As we understand from these case studies there are some basic consideration that students must
recognize when design row houses so there are strategies that are recommended for student
design
-Vertical Expansion: Utilize multiple stories to maximize living space while maintaining a
narrow corridor, accommodating essential rooms like living areas and bedrooms.
Try to give main and front spaces for essential rooms
Maximizing natural lighting and ventilation orientation of the buildings. By strategically
positioning the row houses, you can maximize natural light and ventilation, creating a
comfortable and energy-efficient living environment. Additionally, the orientation can also
provide privacy by minimizing direct visibility between units.
Considering rooms like bath bedroom toilet must to get good ventilation
-Open Floor Plans: Incorporate open layouts that combine living, dining, and kitchen areas to
create a sense of spaciousness and improve flow.
-Functional Zoning: Clearly define areas for different activities (living, dining, sleeping) to
optimize space usage and enhance comfort.
-Use tactics for minimizing circulation spaces like stair,corridor...
-Student must consider contextual situation to use materials that integrated to the surrounding
environments and try to use materials that are available and common usable in the regions
-Construction consideration : Considering the topography of the area to build strong structure
house that can resist collation and some natural damage.

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-Considering Sustainable Materials: Use local, recycled, or reclaimed materials like wood and
bricks to minimize environmental impact and reduce transportation emissions.
-High-Performance Windows: Install energy-efficient windows that enhance insulation and
reduce heating and cooling costs
-Affordability: These were easy to build making them cheaper compared to single separate
houses therefore increasing home ownership rates in cities.
-Low Maintenance: Generally, row houses are easier to maintain than single, large detached
homes since the homes are tightly built with shared walls and relatively tiny yards. This makes
them suitable for anyone who may not have time to cater for a yard or anyone who aspires to
lead a lazy man’s life.
-Community Living: They are dwelling units positioned next to each other and row house
residents are connected creating togetherness making neighborhood spirit achievable.
-Minimal Landscaping
-If you do not like to maintain outdoor spaces, a row house may be an ideal option.You do not
need to invest extensive time in gardening since there is no large private yard to maintain.

Future Research Directions

-Case studies of real states and condominiums could support the design and functionality of
town house by providing empirical evidence that supports sustainable practice and enhance
urban livability by emphasizing user needs by:
• Analyzing how residents interact with their environments helps identify essential features that
enhance comfort, convenience, and community engagement, leading to more user-centered
designs.
• Through case studies, developers can learn about integrating passive solar design, natural
ventilation, and sustainable materials that reduce the ecological footprint of townhouses.
• highlight successful strategies for maximizing land use in urban settings while maintaining
green spaces, contributing to a balanced urban ecosystem.

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Reference
 https://www.archdaily.com/966332/rb9-townhouses-arc-architects

 https://www.archdaily.com/769021/emerson-rowhouse-meridian-105-
architecture/5588d6b9e58ece1c290000b6-emerson-rowhouse-meridian-105-architecture-
photo?next_project=no

 https://archeyes.com/row-house-by-tadao-ando-azuma-house-light-space-concrete/

 https://www.business.gov.et/assets/files/construction-permit/Compulsory-Ethiopian-
Standard-for-Building-Spatial-Design-CES-164.pdf

 https://books.google.com/books?id=6N68sMtqXSUC&printsec=frontcover

 https://www.ribabooks.com/metric-handbook-planning-and-design-data_9780367511395

 https://numberoneproperty.net/en/news/cultural-influences-on-housing-design-and-
architecture

 https://blueprint.ozpropertygroup.com.au/history-of-townhouses-around-the-world/

 https://www.archdaily.com/928183/ame-236-housing-lavalle-plus-peniche-
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 https://ethiopiapropertycentre.com/houses/townhouses/showtype

 https://books.google.co.zm/books?id=GVGcIAVmPukC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&
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 https://www.pathlightpro.com/13-energy-efficient-building-materials-promoting-a-
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 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Townhouse
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residential-building-and-their-locations.pdf

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