Roman Insula. The most common dwelling place for the average and lower-ranking plebeian citizens of antiquity was the Roman Insula - a multifloor apartment block. The Roman insula (plural insulae) was usually owned by wealthy patrician landowners, and they leased the rooms out for a monthly sum to the masses. The first floor of these insulae were usually reserved for street vendors to sell there wares. These smaller shops surrounded an inner courtyard for the other residents to conduct their daily trappings.