Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-01
A Fine Improvement in a Handsome
Residence Section.
Site ON A LOT OF IRREGULAR Size
Views as to the Making Of Designs
for Buildings.
NEW S 7 RU c T U r E S

on Massachusetts avenue between 14th and
10Th streets. Colonel and Mrs. Robert 1.
Fleming are having house built for their
own use, which will be on the south side of
the street and near the corner of 14th
street, the number being 1906 The old
frame houses which have occupied this site
have been torn away and when the new
structure is finished 1T will complete the
modern improvements in that block. The
lot, which has the unusually spacious 'front.'
age of thirty-six feet, extends back eighty
feet to the line of M street.
According to the plans, which have been
drawn by Colonel Fleming, the new struc-
ture will occupy the entire lot In its gen.
eral style, as we'll as in the interior ar
rangement, it will be what is known as an
English basement house On each side of
the entrance hall there will be reception
rooms. From the entrance hall access will
be had to the staircase hail. which will be
lsx2o feet In the rear will be the domestic
department, and in the cellar will be the
arrangement of the first floor will make the
mousse very convenient for social purposes
as 1T viii be possible for the incoming
guests to remove their wraps before min
Cling with those who precede them.
Spacious Interior.
The spaciousness Of the house will be
further emphasized by the ARRANGEMENT of
the parlor floor. The entire front will be
occupied by the parlor, which will be 35x2O
f~et, and then back of IT will be the library
and staircase hall, and still further back
the breakfast room and the dining room;
the latter, fronting on NJ street, will have
bay windows and will be 2Ox26 feet The
two upper floors will be arranged for sleep
ing apartments. Simple as to details will
be the design of the front. There will be a
stone porch en-, over the main entrance and the
exterior will be further broken by bav
projection. The roof line will be finished
with straight cornice and the entire first
story. as well as the portico, will be built
Will be constructed OF Roman brick of a
silver gray shade, which will harmonic
with the stone. The color scheme will be
a rather delicate one in shade which will
tend to relieve the massive effect Of the
design. u Tic
Using an Irregular Lot
The row of attractive houses at the SOUTH
east corner of 18th street and Columbia
road, which were designed by Waddy B.
wood, architect, is to be completed by the
erection of house which will occupy the
| only remaining vacant lot to the west.
The same architect has designed the
mouse which is to be erected by Mrs Mary
L. McAlllster. The exterior will be built of
gray brick, with stone and copper trim
mings, and there will be red tile roof. The
interior arrangement has been determined
largely by the character of the lot AS it
I
and the longer one on 18th street has been
made practically the main one, although
the entrance is from the other street. There
will be a recessed porch which will lead
into a square hall with windows overlook
| ing 18th street The staircase will be in
| this hall, and back of it will be the but
lers pantry and the back staircase The
dining room will be in the front of the
house, with a passage through the pantry
| to the kitchen, which Is in the rear. Open
ing out from the hall will be the dining
| room and also the parlor. the latter with
windows on 18th street. The arrangement
of the second floor will be much the same.
over the entrance porch will be a closet.
There will be a bath room connected with
the front chamber and also another one on
the same floor
The square hall upstairs, with its Win
dows, is intended to be used as sitting or
sewing room. The same general arrange
ment is followed in the third story.
The house will be located on lot of ir-
regular shape, but at the widest place it is
only 26 feet, with depth of 80 feet The
house is interesting example of what
can be done by a careful study of available
space.
Row of Three Houses.
The same architect Is designing three
houses to be erected on street between
9th and eth streets northeast. The front
will be built of gray brick, while red slate
will be used on the roofs. The feature of
the interior will be the platform staircase,
with a V-shaped space at the foot of the
stair platform and between the two main
rooms There Will be openings into both
rooms from this hall space. The angle of
the partition walls in both rooms CORE
spends with that of the two corner fire
places. The kitchen is in back building.
Architects and the Public.
The recent discussion of the question as
to the advisability of the District Commits
sioners attempting to make use of meager
a Ia for Of
houses has been followed with interest in
building circles Architects especially have
noted the various phases in the considera-
ton given to this matter, for while primar-
lily the quality of the construction was in
volved. yet it seemed to be regarded as
necessary in the cheapening process to
avoid the payment of fees to architects and
have designs made by draughtsmen.
The latter consideration probably APP
pealed With more force and not of merely
selfish nature to the profession than to the
general public, for the latter as rule,
are willing to go on record In opposition to
what is known as cheap building; but it
must be said that a. very large number of
intelligent people are not at all clear as to
the place for or the need of the training
skill and taste of an architect in the plan
ming and construction of buildings. 1t is
rather uncommon for, an architect to be
given the entire credit for the design of a
building. Owners are often heard to say
that while Architect So-and-So drew the
tIley pIdClfSdliyt ueSaSHeu the Du11u-
ings. Il IS also possible to hear the state
nlent that some araughtsHan in the office
of some wel-known architect designs the
buildings that come from that particular
office.
1t is apparent the status of the profess
sion of architecture Is not firmly fixed. AT
least in the minds of a good many people
there is some confusion as to the uses of
an architect. and. in fact, whether there is
any particular need Of one. However. it
is apparent that training and taste and
skill are needed in the designing of build
ing, and that the structures famous as
specimens of architecture are not those de-.
signed by men not trained in the profess
sion. There is broad distinction between
draughtsmen and sarchitects as there is
between sign painter and a landscape
artist.
New Buildings.
A building for school purposes, which is
to be rented to the District school authori-
ties, g being built at the corner of sth and
streets northeast by Mrs S. H. Wilmot
II will be two stories in height, 22xTS feet
and the outside walls will be made of red
brick. TIE builder. is W. L. Turner
Mr.. Turner 4 aractinx a hon for hin, CALF