kaksikot

Kaksikot is a Finnish term used in real estate and architecture to describe two-family dwellings, typically marketed as duplexes or semi-detached houses. A kaksikko consists of two separate housing units that occupy a single building or a connected building block and are designed for two households. The units are usually arranged as mirror images or similarly sized layouts and share at least one common wall. Each unit provides its own living areas, kitchen and usually its own entry, though configurations vary by project and market.

Construction and planning approaches for kaksikot vary. They can be timber-framed or masonry and may be built as side-by-side duplexes or as vertically stacked units within a two- or multi-unit building. They are commonly placed on subdivided plots within larger residential developments and often aim to balance the density of apartment living with the privacy of a single-family home. Shared maintenance costs and more efficient land use are frequently cited advantages, while still allowing separate utilities and entrances for each unit.

Kaksikot are distinct from rivitalo, or row houses, which are more tightly connected along longer wall lengths with continuous entrances. They are also presented as alternatives to fully detached houses or to multifamily apartments, depending on regional planning and market demand. In Finland, the term is used in real estate marketing to describe two-family configurations, though exact definitions can vary by developer and municipality.

See also: duplex, semi-detached house, row house, housing in Finland.