What Is The Name Of The Architecture Type Of The Long, Narrow Houses In Charleston, SC?

The most common name for them is "Charleston Single Houses", or sometimes, "row houses".

Typically the Charleston Single House is only about one room wide, and 2 stories high, although up to 4 stories high is not unheard of. They often are only 2 rooms deep, but up to 4 rooms deep is possible. Construction materials are a mix of brick, masonry and wood. They characteristically have a "false" front door opening immediately onto the street, which actually leads to a private porch area, concealed from public view. Essential well-ventilated and private space in the muggy South Carolina climate.

Most of these houses were built in the period 1800-1900, and are in contrast to the Charleston Double House (a less distinctive architectural form). The Single House usually has walls that are only a short distance (less than 10') away from the walls of the building on the next lot over (much like San Francisco "town houses"). The house walls may abutt directly onto neighbouring house walls (like terrace houses in Britain). Often the Charleston Single house has a small yard down the side, typically used in modern times as a car-parking space (if wide enough).

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