I just ordered a copy of Multi-Unit Housing in Urban Cities: From 1800 to Present Day by Katy Chey. I figured this was a book that we should have hanging around our office. I also like to support the Daniels Faculty.

The book covers the following multi-unit housing typologies:

• Back-to-backs in Birmingham
  

• Tenements in London
  

• Haussmann apartments in Paris
  

• Tenements in New York
  

• Tong lau in Hong Kong
  

• Perimeter block, linear block and block-edge in Berlin
  

• Perimeter block and solitaire in Amsterdam
  

• Space-enclosing structures in Beijing
  

• Kyosho jutaku in Tokyo
  

• High-rises in Toronto
  

In addition to each typology, the book analyzes the connection between the housing type and the city. Why did certain typologies flourish where they did and how have they helped to define their city?

It reminds me of what I was trying to do with some of my recent posts about Hong Kong’s typical tower plan, albeit with far less rigor than what I am sure has been applied to this book.

I am also curious to read what has been written about high-rises in Toronto. It goes to show you just how defining the current real estate cycle has been for this city. That’s our multi-unit housing typology.

Image: Daniels Faculty. My multi-unit home made the book.