The spelling of "terrace house" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription. The word begins with the "t" sound, followed by the "eh" sound (represented by the "ɛ" symbol) and the "r" sound. Then comes the "ih" sound (represented by the "ɪ" symbol), followed by the "s" sound and the "eh" sound again. Finally, the word ends with the "h" sound and the "aw" sound (represented by the "aʊ" symbol). Overall, the word is pronounced as "TEH-rihs ih-S HOWS".
A terrace house, also known as a row house or townhouse, is a style of residential building characterized by a row of attached dwellings, usually identical or similar in design, that share side walls with their neighbors. These houses are commonly found in urban areas and are built in a straight line to form a continuous row. The term "terrace" refers to the continuous arrangement of houses that resemble a long, connected terrace.
Terrace houses typically have two or more levels and share a common entrance area, often called a hallway, at the front. The houses are arranged side by side in a symmetrical manner, giving them a uniform appearance from the exterior. Each dwelling usually has its own private entrance, along with a rear garden or a small courtyard.
The defining feature of terrace houses is their shared walls, which provide them with structural stability and efficiency in land utilization. These attached walls help to maximize available space and economize on construction costs. They also contribute to a sense of community and cohesion among the residents of the terrace, as they share immediate neighbors and often have close-knit relationships.
Terrace houses have been popular architectural choices since the 18th century and remain prevalent in many urban areas around the world, such as London, New York City, and Sydney. Their compact and efficient layouts make them suitable for dense urban environments, while their uniform exteriors contribute to the overall streetscape aesthetic.
The word "terrace house" comes from a combination of two terms.
The word "terrace" originally comes from the Latin word "terra", meaning earth or ground. In English, it referred to a raised flat area of ground and the architectural feature of a level platform built on a slope or hillside. In the context of housing, it started to be used in the late 16th century to describe a row of houses built on a raised, flat area with a continuous frontage.
The word "house" can be traced back to the Old English word "hūs", which means dwelling or shelter. It has Germanic roots and is related to the Dutch "huis" and the German "haus".
So, "terrace house" essentially describes a row of houses built in a continuous line on a raised, flat area of ground.