Non-PRO Italian to English Tech/Engineering Architecture

this term appears in a magazine article describing an architectural project using this type of housing typology: many similar, single-family dwellings in a row, having a common wall between them (but with no doors), in this case with access from a long, exterior balcony (like in a motel) which is called "distribuzione a ballatoio". In the article compares this typology with "case in linea" which seems to be essentially the same thing. I am trying to understand the difference, and apply their English equivalents.