The Origin of Terrace Houses

Owning a house and lot is one of the best investments that people today could get. For one, land does not depreciate through time. Its value goes up from time to time, making it the most profitable investment in terms of returns. Though the trend now is getting a condominium or an apartment, there are still other types of housing available in Singapore which you can explore. What is good about having your own house it that you can customize it and you get a larger floor area.

Terrace house in Singapore is among the most common type of housing available in the country. Terraced houses (or row houses or townhouses) originated in Europe during the 16th century. Nowadays, many countries have been inspired by the concept of terraced houses where homes share walls, and most homes are identical. The uniformity of the facade of terraced houses gives an impression that people who are living there are above middle class. However, according to the history of terraced house centuries ago, it is usually associated with being a working class, or belonging to a poor socio economic class. Now, terrace houses are own by middle class up to the upper class. It is now among the most popular design and structure of homes in most countries.

Terrace house in Singapore started during the early British colonial era, wherein Westerners brought the concept of row houses that are uniform in design and architecture. These row houses, or terraced houses, often share walls. Most terrace house in Singapore stand at least two to four storeys, giving more vertical space to the residents. The most common townhouses, though, are 2-storey high. The British design of row houses are modified to suit the needs and the conditions of Singaporean communities, with kitchens at the back of the house, receiving area at the ground floor, and living quarters and bedrooms at the top floors. This is done to fully utilize and maximize the space of the row houses.

As time passes by, town houses in Singapore are modified to fit the lifestyle of the population. There are town houses that are for sale near work areas, malls and other establishments. To adjust to the city life, some row house along the busy streets of Singapore even convert their ground floor to business establishments, such as cafes, restaurants and boutiques.

Most terrace houses have big front yards. These yards, especially if they are big enough, usually serve as parking areas or gardens. However, those that are built in urban areas commonly lack front yards due to lack of space. The designs of terrace houses usually vary depending on the location of the property. Those that are far from prime areas and busy streets often have more living space than those that are built in near the center of commerce and businesses.