>> House numbering logic wildly differs between countries. In Tokyo, houses are numbered in the order in which they are constructed.
>Isn't that the case for most countries?
I don't think so.. as far as I can (subjectively) tell, it's more common to set up a logical system. Another poster mentioned the Finnish system, where the number reflects the physical distance from the start of the road (123 = 1230 meters). Another common scheme is to use even numbers on one side of the road, and odd numbers on the other side, and numbering the houses sequentially, leaving gaps for not-yet built houses. In my street, for example, there's a large gap in the numbering because the next building is nearly a hundred meters away. On the occasional 'two buildings squeezed into one spot' just add A and B (and C and so on) as needed. And around here the numbering always start from the most southern part of the road or street (and if you ask "what about roads going exactly east-west", then a) I don't know, and b) It's really hard to find a roading that goes exactly east-west. I suspect, however, that there's a system for that as well - "if in doubt, start from east" or something).
> Another common scheme is to use even numbers on one side of the road, and odd numbers on the other side, and numbering the houses sequentially, leaving gaps for not-yet built houses. In my street, for example, there's a large gap in the numbering because the next building is nearly a hundred meters away. On the occasional 'two buildings squeezed into one spot' just add A and B (and C and so on) as needed.
That's what we do in the UK as well (barring the gaps in the numbering) but for the most part it still ends up following the logic of "houses numbered in the order in which they are constructed" because you either need to know that there should be a gap (in which case the estimated build date is close enough to the rest of the street's build that you might as well consider it one lump development) or else you end up with letter suffixes or unordered numbering (which is what often ends up in the UK as roads get further developed decades after they were first built).
Ultimately though, there is no law in the UK about how houses should be numbered so as much as there are conventions, it's up to the housing development to apply them. However might differ in other countries which might have stricter legislation about naming houses?
Regarding the south->north scheme, I'd be interested to know what the streets are like in places that follow that convention. In the UK our roads are like a big bowl of spaghetti with even new builds wiggling around and even looping back on themselves (the road I live on is crescent-shaped). But where you have straighter roads, I could imagine a numbering scheme based on the direction of the road might work pretty well.
UK house numbering generally numbers away from the town centre. 1 is always on the left. Applies to most places I know. For twisty roads, it's the starting point that matters. I suspect this breaks in London, Manchester etc where the towns they were centred on have merged into one urban sprawl.
Cul-de-sacs number clockwise consecutively rather than following one side odd, other even.
Some of the strange situations where it breaks stem from WW2 bomb damage breaking a road in two, or removing a dozen houses etc.
Most councils do regulate street names and numbering, and they seem broadly in agreement. No idea of legislation or origin of the convention, but seems nationwide.
Thank you, I didn't know that existed. Though having a read through that, I can't seem to find anything that dictates the system in which houses are numbered (only that houses should be numbered).
Section 64 and 65 talk about house numbers from a display presentation perspective but only go so far as saying "houses with such numbers as the commissioners approve of" but I cannot locate where it describes what systems are approved by commissioners.
Are you able to guide me to the part which does describe what the "approved" system is? I'm rather curious to read it because what I've seen and read to date has lead to to believe it's really more of an agreed convention than anything legislative so very interested to read what the actual rules are.
>Isn't that the case for most countries?
I don't think so.. as far as I can (subjectively) tell, it's more common to set up a logical system. Another poster mentioned the Finnish system, where the number reflects the physical distance from the start of the road (123 = 1230 meters). Another common scheme is to use even numbers on one side of the road, and odd numbers on the other side, and numbering the houses sequentially, leaving gaps for not-yet built houses. In my street, for example, there's a large gap in the numbering because the next building is nearly a hundred meters away. On the occasional 'two buildings squeezed into one spot' just add A and B (and C and so on) as needed. And around here the numbering always start from the most southern part of the road or street (and if you ask "what about roads going exactly east-west", then a) I don't know, and b) It's really hard to find a roading that goes exactly east-west. I suspect, however, that there's a system for that as well - "if in doubt, start from east" or something).