How to build?
Depends on what your building
Bunched up - effective for archers in the beginning of the game (Tool-Bronze period). Why you ask? Because with bunched up archery ranges, the archer type unit can try to fire as soon as he comes out of the building.
Spread out - effective against iron age. This is because of catapults, with spread out buildings, it will take the catapult a longer time to destroy EACH building instead of 1 shot destroying 2 buildings at a time.
Multiple Town Centers - I usually have multiple TCs around key resources (when needed). One factor that always comes into play is when on the enemy land and building on him. For example, Island games where you transport to the enemy island: Try to build your TC first on his island, that way if he kills your forward builders, you got more coming from the TC on his island. Once you have a TC pumping villies from the enemy island, start contructing military buildings.
Houses - in the beginning of the game, it is crucial to use houses effectively some how. First off, you'll need them anyway to increase your population count, next you'll need them for 2 important things:
a) Spread out Houses in key locations to spot enemy villagers on your land (radar housing)
b) Houses clumped up together in key locations to block enemy villagers on your land from that route (stone walling)
What do you notice that's the same in each of these 2 reasons for using houses effectively? Key locations, just remember that.
How fast?
How fast what, don't understand that question.
Any particular order?
Be a little more specific in what your asking, again dunno what your asking for.
Hope this helped a bit.
-Tura