These town homes ranged from small single room dwellings to one with multiple rooms that could cover an entire city block. These were places of rest, leisure, and work, occasionally large enough to hold both extended families and their domestic slaves (Fife, 2012). A common feature was a central atrium where inward sloping roofs poured rainwater through a central square hole into a basin (impluvium) for storage. (Kamm, 2003).
Roman Domas (Fife, 2012)
Tenements
Roman cities were quite populous for the times and as a consequence living space was in high demand. The solution, as it is today, was the creation of large tenement buildings up to 6 stories high
Shops / Apartments
A common dwelling in smaller towns were two story buildings with shops on the ground floor and second floor apartments accessible via an external staircase (Kamm, 2003). This practical configuration can still be found today in many low density cities and towns with internal staircases prevalent in areas that experience severe weather. …show more content…
Villas
Wealthier individuals might own villas in the countryside, sometimes close enough to the city to commute., These villas where grandiose versions of the traditional Roman town homes, with additional rooms added and the atrium expanded into one or more courtyards. These were sprawling inward facing structures designed to house extended families and servants with room for leisure, work, and A garden (Kamm, 2003). So efficient for hot, dry climates, you can often find modern villas being constructed following the same basic design.
Getty Villa (Travel To Eat, 2014) Traditional Roman Villa (Kamm,