With kids, definitely bottom. Easier for groceries, and perhaps you get a back garden to run around in.

i prefer the two-family-house breed of duplex, often split vertically, not horizontally. I've been in one this year and will miss it terribly.

I live in Richmond, VA, where most of the old row houses have been cut into a very similar style of stacked duplexes. Having lived in apartments on both levels, I'd have to say it depends on the situation as to which is preferable. The top usually gets more light and is quieter (and sometimes has a wonderful balcony!), but the bottom often has a large porch (sometimes front and back - swoon!) or even a bit of yard. In my experience, you have to choose based on the details of the block, the house, and the whole situation.

Aren't these actually triplexes? A ground floor apartment entered through an exterior door, a second floor apartment entered via an outdoor staircase and a door and the third floor apartment entered via the second door on the second floor and then an interior staircase. To me, this is a triplex, not a duplex.

Lovely ivy and balconies. Very romantic!

Chicmate, there's all sorts of configurations here regarding duplex and triplex building. I would not leave on a first floor onloy for security reasons (lots of thieves), but they do have nice gardens in the back most of the time.

I love all the Montreal posts you've been writing up, yay! Let me know if you need a blogger for an eventual Apartment Therapy Montreal. :) I have my own blog, but it's in French!

www.toctoctocentrez.com

I like them both. Hate ivy though.

If I've understood the layout correctly, these are pretty common in Chicago as well. We call them two-flats or three-flats, whichever the case may be.

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These are indeed triplexes, as chicmate observed.

I'm currently in a ground-floor, which is great for the garden and not having to haul groceries up stairs (definitely a plus in winter), but does lack a little in terms of natural light. Window bars in front and a high secure fence in the back take care of the security issues.

Oh yes, I understand that these comes in different shapes and sizes, I was just pointing out that those in the pictures are triplexes, not duplexes as labeled.

I live in a triplex in Montreal like those in the post, but I live on the third floor; it's a hassle to move, but it's worth the sunlight, the view from the balconies (I have one in front and one in back) and not having noisy neighbours above me.

Agreement -- these are called flats in most cities around the world, including the US.

Top floor in the summer, ground floor in the winter.

Definitely a triplex, says a former Montrealer.

Yeah, this is not very groundbreaking.

I live in San Francisco, and we have buildings like these all over SF and Oakland -- often Victorians or Edwardians carved into 2-4 flats. Entrances all on the same 1st or 2nd floor, but all leading to individual floors.
Same thing for many a brownstone in New York, I assume.

Just because it's in Montreal and is called a duplex or triplex, doesn't mean it's that novel.

Unless you're not good with stairs, why would you live anywhere but the upper floor of any apartment building? You don't want noisy neighbors stomping above you. Preferably you want to be on top of them.

Oddly enough, over here in Malaysia, stacked residences such as these are referred to as 'townhouses'.

Montreal has the best apartments in all of Canada. I always get Apartment Envy when I visit.

The backs of Montreal walk-ups are even more interesting than the fronts. In an effort to bring as much light as possible into the long skinny layouts of the buildings, many of the backs are irregular and make for nice courtyards between sets of buildings and unique outdoor spaces in back yards off alleys.

I was just in Montreal and wondered how all those outdoor metal stairs fare in the ice and snow? Looks dangerous! I think the difference between these and similar ones in other cities is the exterior stairs.

The reason duplexes in Mtl. are stacked this way is because of the very high density of the downtown area. The apartments themselves--though lovely--tend to be very small.

This is a duplex. To my Philadelphia-born mind, a vertical split is a "twin," and a horizontal one is a duplex, or, in this version, a triplex or "trinity."

I'd choose the ground floor if it meant I got a garden area, even just for a few square feet. Otherwise I'd take the top and put in window boxes and a pot on the balcony.

I'd pick lower. Once winter comes into play, upstairs is a lot less fun.

Just hope your upstairs neighbours are quiet.

the reason duplexes and triplexes are stacked this way in Montreal is that putting the stairs on the outside is a tax saving for the owner of the building -- was just reading about it the other day.

Marfa, those stairs can become very icy and dangerous during the cold season. We usualy put up "ice rugs" made of a woven bristle-like material. It prevents icing and makes it safer.

I can't say I miss having to shovel this type of stairs!

Im in a triplex, and i live on the upper floor. Its definitely worth it, for the view, for the sun, for having no one above, and having two pairs of stairs to be at home, its good for the shape!
We have a garden outside, and we share it, except the private wood deck is private for the bottom.

Are you kidding? If I had it my way I would never have to live below anyone ever again. Top floor, please!

Every city has unique and chic apartments. But I don't know too many cities that has quite so many naturally, historically chic and interesting apartments readily affordable as Montreal has. I'm glad it's getting the recognition it deserves, although I kind of wish it would stay lesser known until I get there and snag one... :P