Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-07
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
House Builders Deep in the Study Of
Architects Plans.
THE QUESTION OF SHOW vs.. UTILITY
Important Changes Decided Upon
in the Building Regulations.
THE FIRE LIMITS MODIFIED

THE FIRE LIMITS MODIFIED
People who intend to erect houses this
year arc lust now busy over designs
and plans. Perhaps there may not be as
many who have in view the erection OF
homes for themselves as the architects and
the builders would like, but still there are
quite a number of prospective house build
ers The individual experiences at such
a period for the average man does not
often build more than one house for him
self in the course Of his life, are apt to be
those which are remembered for some
time. Usually 1t Is a novel experience Tor
the majority of people. because 1t brings
them in contact with facts which are out
side of their daily lives and occupations.
They learn something about the prices OF
material, the cost of labor. and In some
cases about the different styles OF archi-
lecture. They become familiar with new
vocabulary and find out something of the
difficulties attendant upon getting abstract
ideas into concrete shape. There are gen.
orally two main thoughts in the minds of
those who start out to build a home.
The man of the house Is apt to be partic-
ular about the exterior appearance, while
to the wife, who at the same time Is not
averse to making good outward show,
the interior arrangements for the accom-
mediation Of the domestic department and
the provisions for meeting the social re-
Quirements Of modern life are likely to be
looked upon as Of prime Importance. The
architect is called upon to carry out these
ideas with the further restrictions which
the shape and size Of the particular lot
selected. and as the site of the future resi-
dence, imposes, and also the size Of the
bank account. 1t would appear by the
mere statement that that would be a rather
difficult task to perform, but 1t is accom-
plished SO frequently that it is evident that
the obstacles are more apparent than real.
Sacrificed to show.
In this city there Is SO much individual
building that the variety Of architecture.
especially as seen in private dwellings, IL
very great and is also. a. a rule. pleasing.
The tendency to sacrifice utility and sub
stantial construction for mere show is kept
within reasonable bounds. Here and there
may be seen a house, the design Of which,
as well as the materials used, violates the
canons Of good taste and betrays O shabby
effort to look as If 1t cost a good deal more
money than it did. 1t may be readily i'm
agtned what the character of the materials
is which are not exposed to view. 1t fol-
lows that stone fronts and tiled entrances
and all that sort of thing In q house of
moderate price are put there at the sacri-
flee of the use Of good material and the en-
ployment of good workmanship in the in
terror. AS there is a demand for such
dwellings, and as the people who occupy
them are frequently Indifferent as to how
the rest of the house is built, as long 1t
presents a snowy appearance on the street
front, it seems to be a case where, If the
| interested parties are satisfied. the out
siders or the general public have no cause
| for complaint.
Ventilation I'm Public Buildings.
In view Of the possibility of the erection
Of one. perhaps two, public buildings in
this city In the course Of the next year or
SO. it is important in the interests Of the
health of those who will occupy the build
ings, that modern ideas should rule in the
arrangement of the interiors. The great
practical difficulty with most large build
ings is to secure their proper ventilation
and lighting. The building Of the pension
office has been the subject Of a good deal
of ridicule, principally because OF its ex-
| terror, but 1t would seem that the plan of
the interior is based on a very sensible ap-
probation of the Importance Of securing an
| ample supply Of light and air. In this
building there are no badly lighted. badly
smelling inside corridors with tier of
| rooms opening out from them on both sides.
| The ONCE rooms in the pension building
are in tiers, three stories high, built around
a large court, so that the rooms are well
| lighted in all parts, and the ventilation Is
said to be excellent. 1t Is true that there
has been some complaint that there were
drafts in this building, but II is probable
that that objection, If 1t exists. can be
overcome. At any rate, the plan seems to
possess superior advantages over the con-
| ventional government office building, Of
| which We have SO many examples In this
| city.
Hard Wood Interiors.
~ In int
ton seems to be as popular as ever, al
| though what Is known as the colonial style
| threatens to supersede 1t. II this style was
confined merely to finishing parlors in white
and gold 1t would not be likely to come into
general USE for while nearly every house
has a parlor, there are but comparatively
few householders who either have the
means or the inclination to live up to a
white and gold parlor. But this style in
vades sll the rooms Of the house, and has
the wood finish painted to suit the decora-
tons Of the wall and the hangtngs. In
many cases the painted wood finish has
taken the place OF hard oil finish. How
ever, the majority Of people are very fond
of the rich tones of the hard wood, and
therefore they are not inclined to abandon
it 1t may be said that there never was a
time when hard woods were not used to
some extent in private houses. Some years
ago walnut was all the rage, and this
somber wood was used extensively in max
eral finish Of the house. Now, however.
walnut Is very seldom used, and in it's place
great variety of hard woods is employed.
Pine is also utilized, and 1t seems that II the
employment Of paint becomes general II
will be used more extensively than ever in
| residences.
In the more expensive class Of houses
marble of different varieties are made use
Of for interior decorations. This material
is used to face fire-placeS, for paneling stair
case halls and entrance halls. 1t 10 used
also In the construction of stairs, and some
times forms the paneling of walls.
The New Building Regulations.
After the District appropriation bill Is dis
posed Of the Commissioners have decided to
take up as special business the new build
Ing regula tions. The consideration Of this
will probably consume some time, although
but one amendment will be discussed. This
will be the regulation concerning the loca-
ton of theaters. All of the replies to the
letters of inquiry sent out by the Commits
sioners to the principal cities as to the reg
ulations In force governing the location of
theaters have been received and in not one
of them does 1t appear that there Is any
special regulation on the subject. With the
well-known intentions of the board 1t is
fair to assume that the new amendment to
the building regulations will not throw any
obstacles in the way Of new theater on
H street, should Manager Alhaush still ia