What exactly defines a townhouse? In this episode of pplpod, we explore the vertical history of this architectural staple. We trace the townhouse back to its origins in 18th-century Britain, where it served as the city residence for wealthy families and landowners during the social season.

We break down the architectural distinctions that separate a true townhouse from its close cousin, the rowhouse, noting that while rowhouses are typically uniform and adjacent, townhouses generally imply a more luxurious, individually owned dwelling. We also tackle the common confusion between "townhouses" and "condos," explaining how one refers to the physical structure while the other refers to the type of ownership.

Finally, we take a global look at how the term evolves across borders, from the "brownstones" of New York City to the high- ...