A place or city can be characterized by a particular housing type – a ‘referential housing type’. It is usually embodied in the housing form that was widely produced in the golden age of a region. It may be conceived as an inseparable combination of spatial and socio-cultural features. Such a type sheds light on the socio-cultural character of a particular place. It enables a better understanding of the other housing forms in the place. These other forms can be comprehended in relation to the referential type. Bearing in mind that the ‘genius loci’ is a key to designing new projects, referential types can function in two ways: through a contemporary interpretation of their spatial features, or through the creation of new spatial features that are able to support the socio-cultural inner logic informed by the referential types. The concept of referential types is illustrated in Brussels and Amsterdam. Paradigmatic examples with identical conventions allowing for objective comparisons are explored.@en