The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-11

Frank Choteau Brown, a former Min
geapolis boy, is among the rising young
architects of Boston and is frequent
contributor to art publications on vari-
GUS phases of applied art. He began a
series of articles in the January Good
Housekeeping on "The Building of a
House, For people of small means he
makes, a goodargument in favor of going
to the younger architects, who are not
yet so much absorbed in big contracts
that they cannot give personal attention
to such clients, and who are interested
in the problems for their own sake.
''But,'' he says, the architect con-
scientious tho he may be, cannot give
to the owner the kind Of house that he
has right to expect or that he de-
sires, unless the owner himself will CO.
operate with him in order to produce a
successful result
Mr.. Brown calls attention to one of
the frequent causes of dissatisfaction
and complaint on the part Of an archi-
tect's clients; they want and expect
things not included in the specifications,
which do not ordinarily include screens,
lures, seats, bookcases, mantels and fire.
places.
The recommendation is made that
where man has positive, precon-
ceived idea of the kind of an exterior
appearance and treatment he wants in
his house, he would do much better to
decide on them and consult his architect
before he buys his land, as he is very
likely to select ground which from loca-
| ic cd RI
carry the type of house he most desires.
This is not the usual procedure, but it
would prevent many misfts and disap-
The site will always impose certain
general conditions; the directions of view
will suggest the location Of the principal
living and bedrooms; the points Of the
compass, with their attending considera-
tions of cold and warm directions (these
prevailing winds), as well as the sides
exposed to the sun between its rising
and setting, are also most important
while the possible next adjoining build
ings may, by shutting off the sun, OF
constructing the view, change in one way
or another, the first general conditions
The contour of the land, the fact OF it!
being wooded by one or another va
riety Of trees, or left open and clear
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general outline and skyline Of the build
ings located upon it. In addition to tn.
considerations imposed by the land
there are others determined by the eli
mate, the local conditions and finally
, by the owner. @
No architect with right feeling 70
the principles Of his profession eve
balks at restrictions in price, howeve
rigorous they may be. Indeed, thes
restrictions, along with what others ma.
exist, serve but to increase the lnteres
of the problem, as such, and spur the de
signer on toward the. one successful SC
luton that always exists for every prob
lem, however difficult it may at first ap
pear. It is possible, however, for tn
owner to destroy the interest OF hi
architect by any number OF unreas0n
J able or impossible demands.
, One factor the owner must not over
look is the feeling and appreciation TO
the artistic that has, during the last fey
years, begun to SO strongly ev1nce 1tsel
, among the great mass of the American
people. This movement has at las
reached a point where it has impressed
/ itself on the most commercial of con
, tractors and it is becoming well estab
lished that it is poor investment t.
!: put up ugly, commonplace and badly
designed houses.
4 An artistic exterior need not cost
cent more than an inartistic one. In
deed, today the most pleasing effects ar
obtained by simplicity in composition
; and an actual saving in expense i
effected by omission Of the overelabor
ate exterior "gimcracky' ornament