The Introductory essay is a good, concise historical account of the development of the urban house within the US and how it developed through various permutations. As I was interested in historical precedents from an architectural standpoint, I found the individual examples and their essays a bit too guide-booky. This dowager’s grandchild subsequently restored these curtains, that historical commission added those lamps, look at the sumptuous environment of ottomans, doilies, and gilded wall thingies – that type of stuff. It’s the same complaint I would direct towards the way Dwell Magazine (among innumerable lesser examples) portrays a particular home design; where we would just as soon see a photo showing the client on the pot reading than a clear floor plan. But Dwell’s popular (and I would say helpful for us “nice modernist”-leaning architects, though strangely I haven’t had a house commission since about exactly the same month that Dwell launched!) and therefore I suppose this book should be well regarded amongst normal townhouse enthusiasts. Admittedly, because of some time constraints, I couldn’t get through many of these individual writings. Therefore in fairness I’m rating this for the introductory essay itself. ( )