Description
A study of the townhouse as both a cultural phenomenon and as a important design type in American urban architecture looks at the unique design chracteristics, construction, and history of some of the nation's finest townhouses, including homes from Charleston, New York City, Brooklyn, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Rancho Santa Fe, among others.
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For this authoritative survey, architecture historian Murphy (City U. of New York and Brooklyn College) defines "townhouses" more broadly than current real estate practice; he includes houses that are attached to their neighbors as well as those that are "freestanding but built close to the street and in rows of similarly scaled buildings" (rowhouses are a subgroup). His introductory essay surveys their history and cultural context and identifies architects, trends, and influences. The heart of the book comprises thorough visual and narrative profiles of 25 houses, grouped by style: colonial and federal, Greek revival, Italianate and brownstone, and Queen Anne and other revivals. Abundant full-page color photos (by Radek Kurzaj) showcase interiors and exteriors in an oversize format (10x12"). Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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