Doppelhaus

A Doppelhaus is a pair of single-family dwellings built as a single structure that shares a party wall. Each unit is a separate home with its own entrance, garden, and living space, and the two halves are usually designed to be similar or mirror images. The arrangement combines semi-detached living with a compact footprint suitable for urban or suburban settings.

In German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland, the term contrasts with Reihenhaus (row house) and Einfamilienhaus (detached house). A Doppelhaus specifically refers to two dwellings in one building sharing a wall, while the half-house is the separate unit. Construction methods vary, including brick, concrete, and timber framing, with pitched roofs common but not universal.

Interior layouts typically emphasize efficient use of space, with two independent staircases, kitchens, and living areas, and often a central facade that expresses symmetry. Many examples are built as mirror-image halves to economize design and construction while preserving separate privacy and identity.

Advantages include efficient land use, shared construction costs, and improved energy performance due to a common wall. Disadvantages may include neighbor disputes or limited interior customization and shared maintenance responsibilities for the shared wall. Doppelhäuser are widely used in Europe for affordable housing and urban densification, and are commonly marketed as semi-detached or twin houses in real estate listings.