Evening star., 1895-06-15
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Hot Weather and the Architecture
of Private Houses.
ADAPTING BUILDINGS TO THE CLIMATE
The Opportunities for Those Who
Wish to Own Their Homes.
SOME IMPROV EN- N Z S

apt TO De suggested TO the average CITY
householder during the warm weather. To
those whose ideas of the functions of an
architect are limited to the production of
graceful or snowy front the lack of con-
venience or of comfort in a house is at
tributed to other causes However, an
architect is supposed to design the interior
arrangements of dwelling, and to have
some supervision over the method of con-
struction, and his professional duties cover
a wider sphere than the merely orna-
mental.
During the stress of hot weather period
the adartability of an interior plan of
house to the climate, we'll as the thor
oughness of it's construction. is likely to be
put to rather a severe test. If through lack
of judgment, or, perhaps, economical mo-
tives a sufficient provision is not made for
an air chamber between the upper story
and the roof, and as a consequence the
temperature of the rooms in that part of
the house resembles that OF a bake oven,
the householder is bound to suffer discom-
fort, which is not much lessened by the
thought that the front Of the house has
either an imposing or elegant appearance
Then it is possible that the disposition of
the space in the various stories may be
such that 1t is impossible to secure free
circulation of air. When the thermometer
rises to an uncomfortable height this fact
becomes apparent. If those who have built
had the plans under consideration during
some of the warm days of summer it is pos
sible that some material modihcations
would have been made in the present style
Of building houses.
Spacious Window Openings.
At such time the advantages of spa
cious window openings would probably
be readily cortceded. There would be no
need of argument to convince the aver
age mind that the popular fashion of hav-
ing transoms in the windows is not a sensi-
BILE one. The size CT the window sashes is
thereby reduced, and It IS impossible to
use for ventilating purposes more than
one-nalf of the window opening. 1t is
thought by many that the comfort of the
average house would be materially inereas-
ed if the sashes of at least one window in
every room were swung on hinges.
If this were done and the tra1som feature
was abandoned, then the entire sash could
be thrown back and the benefit of the
opening in Its entirety would he secured.
The fashion of having outside blinds III
stead of inside shutters is gradually be-
coming general and when the windows
protected in this way it will be readily
seen that, with the sashes thrown back the
entire length of the window 1nd the cut
side blinds closed, a great deal of the heat
from the pavenents could be excluded and
at the same time a circulation of air
through the rooms could be secured.
1t is coming to be recognized that this
city has many advantages a summer
resort, due to the abundance of shade trees
anu parks tETOuSHCuC the CITY ana lnS
large amount of space that is devoted to
lawns. If little attention was paid 20
the details of house construction there is
no question but that the comfort of sum-
mer residence in this city would be greatly
enhanced.
The Class of Home Owners.
Some attention has been paid to the mat
ter of supplying houses of moderate cost
for those who, for various reasons, de-
ara n live in ha bo IN
crease in the number of rapid transit
suburban roads the facilities of easy COM
mrnication between the business center of
the city and the adjacent country are now
quite ample. and there is no reason why
the residence area should not be extended
far beyond the old bounds of the city. The
difference in the cost Of land in and out
of the city, as well in the cost and
character of the houses, points to the
suburbs as offering opportunities for peo-
pie of limited means to acquire their own
homes.
Considerable progress has been made in
building up the suburbs. and 1t is proba-
BILE that If the facts in regard to the price
of land and the cost of building were
brought to the attention of the public gen.
orally substantial additions would be made
to that desirable class in any community,
namely, the home owners. If for any rea-
son. however, a residence within the city
limits is desired the inducements that are
open to those who desire to own their own
ucally exclude none however limited their
means.
Mr.. Willard's Improvement.
An improvement of some magnitude Is
being made by Mr.. c. C. Willard, in the
square between 18th and 14th and E and
F streets. The building which he is erect
ing fronts on the alley in the rear of the
National Theater, and will have a 'front.'
age of about 100 feet. 1t will adjoin the
Co., rEtr ht,t1Sl htoh te
as an annex by the geological survey. The
site of this new building is the rear por-
ton of the lot on which the old Merrick
building stands, which Is also owned by
Mr.. Willard. 1t is believed that he intends
to make such alterations and improve
ments in the Merrick building as will adapt
1t for business purposes.
Three Suburban Houses.
Davidson & Davidson are building three
houses on Wyoming avenue just west of
Columbia road, Washington Heights, from
plans prepared by Geo. S. Cooper, archi-
tect. The houses are of cottage design,
and the materials used will be brick and
stone. One of the features will be the
large porcheS on the front and sides. The
design is of the colonial type of archi-
lecture, and the details are rather elabor-
ate Spanish tile will cover the high-pitch-
ed roofs. Each house will contain eleven
rooms, and the interior finish of the first
hoor Will be in hard woods.
Good Record.
The record of the building inspectors office
for the week ending yesterday was the best
In months. When the office closed yester-
cay total of twenty-three permits had
been issued, at an aggregate cost of $50, 175.
OF this amount the northwest led with
thirteen permits at S62,675. The southeast
came next, with six permits at $1,000; the
southwest next with two permits at $4,000,
and the county last, with two permits at
Zoo. No permits We're issued for build
Hgs in the northeast section.
Some New buildings.
The building at the corner of 18th and II
streets owned by Mrs. Montegriffo is be-
Ing remodeled into an apartment house
from plans made by NJ. Hunter Jones, ar
chitect. A new press-brick front is to be
built, and the first floor will be arranged
for business purposes.
ID. II. Gottwals will erect a two-story
dwelling on + street between 9th and 9TH
streets northeast, from plans prepared by
r. j. Beall. jr., architect. The front is TO
be OF press brick.