Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-08
COUNTRY ARCHITECTURE.
Styles Of Suburban Homes-Diversity Of
American Tastes

styles OF Suburban Homes-Diversity Of
American Tastes
1t was but natural that the people in this
country should initiate the Old World IN
most things, but 1T is to their credit that
they should strike out for themselves in
their great variety o. styles OF architecture
for their dwelling houses. In this country.
said Mr.. Charles j. Stevens to DISPATCH
reporter, the wealthy classes of Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, this and other cities
have lately turned their attention to
beautifying their country residences.
Probably more taste and more money
are devoted to this purpose around Boston
than elsewhere in the country. In keeping
with the genius of the people, the architects
have developed what may be called an
American style, which means infinite va
riety. The ambition Of the householder is
to get house like no ones else.
In no place has the improvement in archi-
tectural taste been more marked than In and
around Pittsburg during the past five years,
and the reduction in the cost of material
and the good supply Of labor makes it possi-
BILE for very artistic houses to be erected at
moderate cost. The fathers were satisfied
to build box-like affair, with doors for
coming in and going out, and windows to
let in light, and ireplaces to give warmth.
There was no desire for taste of design or
ornamentation. Their sous have improved
In this respect. They see that comfort and
beauty can be combined. They have trav-
eled and seen the artistic houses of Newport,
Saratoga, and around Boston and New
York, and their taste is improved for some
thing finer and more beauti ul. There is
the wealth in this city for erecting costly
houses at hundred thousand dollars and
over, and many private incomes capa-
BILE OF putting up those that cost ten or if
teen thousand dollars.
A typical one of these houses, not costing
over SIC, ,000 had two stories and an attic.
1t is constructed of stone the first story and
of wood the remainder, with shingled in
stead of weather-boarded walls. II had
porches around two sides, and small porti-
Goes at other places, and bay window end
Ing IN turret at one of the corners. Inside,
on the lrst floor, are parlor, dining room
and reception rooms, and on the second floor
are i've rooms, all opening into a central
hall. The servants rooms are in the attic.
1t is supplied with bath rooms, and hot and
cold water pipes go over the whole house.
1t is now customary to build country
houses near the city OF stone and wood
stone the first story and wood the remainder.
In this way variety is obtained, and ivy can
be trained over the stone. With the modern
methods of felting and tiling the inside Of
the roofs and walls. the frame house can be
kept cool in the hottest weather.
But the variety of the styles is the most
striking thing in the architecture of these
houses. There is hardly any pronounced
style OF architecture in any house. Many
of them come nearer the Queen Anne style,
but the tendency of all might be described
as toward the Romanesque This Is slowly
becoming popular, and is probably more
pleasing, with its broad, round arches, than
the Queen Anne, with its sharp-pointed ga
bles predominating. The inside must har-
monize with the outside, and in consequence
one obtains infinite variety there also. The
tendency in many homes is toward the colo
nial and French renaissance.