Talk:Duplex (building)

Latest comment: 3 years ago by Joiedevivre123321 in topic contrast?

Photo? edit

The photo doesn't seem to be relevant to the topic. Looks like just an apartment building. ==

Thank you for saying the line is blurred. Would you believe it, that helps clear up years of confusion :) Nastajus 21:19, 14 May 2006 (UTC)Reply

Removed irrelevant photo of a multistory apartment building containing multiple (meaning more than two living units) apartments.--Degen Earthfast (talk) 13:27, 4 April 2015 (UTC)Reply

Maisonette? edit

Especially in dense areas like Manhattan, a duplex apartment refers to a single dwelling unit spread over two floors connected by an indoor staircase. Similarly, a triplex apartment refers to an apartment spread out over three floors. These properties can be quite expensive, and include the most expensive property in Manhattan as of 2006 (according to Forbes Magazine), a triplex atop The Pierre Hotel.


That sounds like what, in the page on "house types", was called a "maisonette" and it's the use for duplex employed in Spanish-speaking countries as far as I know.

In Canada, duplexes and triplexes have 2 and 3 independent housing units; an individual housing unit spreading over two floors is a cottage. --Laddo (talk) 21:22, 17 April 2017 (UTC)Reply

merge with semi-detached edit

As a look in some dictionaries shows([1],[2],[3], "duplex" is a synonym for a semi-detached house in certain English-speaking countries, but it is also used to refer to apartments. The comment about Boston in semi-detached is apparently a joke/vandalism. --Espoo 14:20, 22 September 2007 (UTC)Reply

I am not sure that these side by side houses would be called Duplexes, especially in the Northeast United States. It is what I have always seen as a "Twin." Basically, what I have seen as a duplex tends to be the same mailing address with different housing units, usually on different floors. Such an address can be "175 Maple Ave 1st Flr", "175 Maple Ave 2nd Flr." This idea can be the same for a triplex, etc., as well. Usually the duplex is considered one address by the town where the residence is taxed, and owned by one property owner, (whether that property owner is one person, a couple, a partnership, or a corporation), while the twin can be owned separate owners. Not sure if this point is enough for a rewrite of the entry. Klendathue (talk) 17:06, 4 August 2008 (UTC) Klendathue 8/4/2008Reply

I've always thought of a duplex as one house split down the middle by a wall, with the left side one residence and the right side another residence. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 146.145.251.34 (talk) 22:05, 1 December 2010 (UTC)Reply

In the UK semi-detached houses are two separate properties that only share a wall. Each is a self-contained house built on it's own lot with it's own entrance, garden/yard/driveway, separate connections to water, electricity etc. and are usually sold separately. Basically the only difference between semi-detached and detached houses is that semis are built right at the edge of the lot so there is no space between them (usually in order to make the best use of a small/narrow lot). By contrast a duplex is multiple properties built on one lot but with separate entrances rather than one door from the street and internal doors to each apartment. 82.68.159.246 (talk) 16:29, 16 October 2014 (UTC)Reply
Sounds to me like there is some regional variation here in the US. I consider what the Brits call "semi-detached" to be a duplex, but basically any two-unit dwelling can be a duplex. Usually they are mirror images one to the other, but I have seen other arrangements, like wrapping around a corner. Often, duplexes will have garages for tenants cars whereas apartment buildings often don't. Addressing forms can vary, I suppose, but quite often each unit has it's own address: 175 Maple and 177 Maple. Wschart (talk) 13:08, 11 July 2016 (UTC)Reply

Merger proposal edit

Merger proposal paired home edit

I propose that Paired home be merged into Duplex (building). "Paired home" is apparently just something that realtor Scott P. Rogers made up to describe his duplexes. --Jtle515 (talk) 06:58, 27 February 2017 (UTC)Reply

  • Support this, but NOT a merge with Semi-detached, which the chaotically-formed nom seems also to propose (see just above also). Johnbod (talk) 16:35, 3 March 2017 (UTC)Reply
  • Support, this article is blatant vamping of a tiny concept into an advertisement for duplexes by another name.--Shibbolethink ( ) 17:15, 3 March 2017 (UTC)Reply
  • Comment Discussion and consensus seems to be happening at multiple places. I have hopefully focused the discussion by modding the section heads. ClemRutter (talk) 00:42, 21 March 2017 (UTC)Reply

Merger proposal duplex and semi-D edit

ClemRutter (talk) 00:42, 21 March 2017 (UTC)Reply

contrast? edit

The article says "By contrast, a building comprising two attached units on two distinct properties is typically considered semi-detached or twin homes but is also called a duplex in parts of the Northeastern United States."

How is this any contrast? How is "a building comprising two attached units on two distinct properties" not the same as "a... house plan [with] two living units attached to each other... next to each other as townhouses"? tahc chat 07:00, 29 December 2019 (UTC)Reply

It's not. SpiritedMichelle (talk) 01:29, 26 July 2020 (UTC)Reply
I feel like are trying to describe the difference between a duplex on a lot that is shared or HOA owned compared to a duplex or townhome where the buildings are connected but they are each their own legal lot. Joiedevivre123321 (talk) 21:51, 2 April 2021 (UTC)Reply