Baltimore Rowhouse [Hardcover]

Mary Ellen Hayward (Author), Charles Belfoure (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1999

Perhaps no other American city is so defined by an indigenous architectural style as Baltimore is by the rowhouse, whose brick facades march up and down the gentle hills of the city. Why did the rowhouse thrive in Baltimore? How did it escape destruction here, unlike in many other historic American cities? What were the forces that led to the citywide renovation of Baltimore's rowhouses? The Baltimore Rowhouse tells the fascinating 200-year story of this building type. It chronicles the evolution of the rowhouse from its origins as speculative housing for immigrants, through its reclamation and renovation by young urban pioneers thanks to local government sponsorship, to its current occupation by a new cadre of wealthy professionals.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"But just when it may seem that no one respects rowhouses anymore, along comes a book that reminds us what they've meant to the city - and why they're worth celebrating...For a bleaker look at the fate of the rowhouse, readers will have to look elsewhere. As Baltimore grapples with the issues of 'undercrowding' and abandonment, other voices are sure to weigh in. By taking such a serious and authoritative looks at the Baltimore rowhouse - and finding so much positive to report - Hayward and Belfoure have made a valuable contribution to the debate." -- The Baltimore Sun

"Excellent and extensive study of the American row-house." -- Choice, February 2000

"With her light touch, Busch--at once learned and unpretentious--takes you through a tour of homes and homemaking that is rich in history and sumptuously detailed. 'Dining Room' tells, among things, of how table knives lost their pointed ends when Louis XIV decided that the table was no place for dueling. Henceforth all knife-ends were to be rounded and a great leap was made, if not for mankind, then for manners...No corner of the home or habit of the mind goes neglected here; reading this, you will look on your house--from its public face, the front door, to the inner sanctum of the well-appointed bathroom-with new eyes." -- Pool & Spa Living

The authors interweave the narrative and information so seamlessly that the book reads like a skillfully constructed novel... -- Art Documentation, January 2000

About the Author

Mary Ellen Hayward directs the Maryland Trust's Alley House project, which oversees several historic site surveys in the city. Charles Belfoure specializes in preservation projects and teaches in Goucher College's preservation program.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press; 1 edition (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568981775
• ISBN-13: 978-1568981772
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,504,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well-written treatment of a highly specialized topic, December 11, 2002

By 

saskatoonguy (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Baltimore Rowhouse (Paperback)

The rowhouse is far more common in Baltimore than other US cities, and these authors have documented its history and development up to the present day. Every nuance of design change is thoroughly discussed, and the amount of detail allows a street-by-street discussion at times. We're told about the various developers who, parcel by parcel, converted old elite estates into street grids covered with rowhouses of varying quality. The book ends as an advertisement for new urbanism, in which dilapidated old rowhouses are renovated and run-down neighborhoods undergo renewal.

The quality of writing is particularly high. There are approximately 140 b&w photos, which for the most part are grouped together so they can be printed on high-gloss paper. This is an awkward arrangement that requires the reader to flip back and forth to the glossy photo pages. There are approximately ten cross-sections and floor plans. There are very few maps, and a detailed knowledge of Baltimore geography is assumed. Because of the highly specialized nature of this book, it is unlikely to appeal to anyone outside Baltimore, but it would probably be a delight to architectural enthusiasts within the city.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They say, "Timing is everything..", May 18, 2001

By 

Nellie M. Burkhamer (Baltimore City, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baltimore Rowhouse (Hardcover)

...and the time to read 'The Baltimore Rowhouse' is now! I'm telling you'se- this book has it all. ; )

You not only get the expected descriptions of the architectural styles of rowhouses, and a historical review of the development of this style of housing, but the author weaves in the chronological social climb of an immigrant family throughout the book. Following the family's real estate history gives the book a story-like, biographical feel; unusual for non-fiction of this nature. It is in a sense, a well documented account of one way the "American Dream" has been realized.

From a social/cultural perspective, the 'Baltimore Rowhouse' is a social commentary on Baltimorean (and American) housing development past, present and future from visionary authors who love the City of Baltimore.

I received the book as a Christmas gift and read it in about 3 days. I couldn't put it down and was a little saddened that it had to end. I say this rarely- IT IS A MUST READ.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Baltimore Rowhouse, March 22, 2000

By 

Paul Cooper (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baltimore Rowhouse (Hardcover)

The Baltimore Rowhouse provides an insightful retrospective of the growth of Baltimore City over a 200+ year period by analyzing the houses which its residents built and occupied. It chronicles the birth of a city and describes its growing pains in accomodating its increasing population. Being a lifelong resident of Baltimore and having a personal knowledge of the neighborhoods described in the book, it was especially fascinating to me. I was able to match my own knowledge with the historical background provided by the authors. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to understand the growth and evolution of a typical American City from the perspective of its townhomes.