Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-23
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Slight Increase Shown in
Building Operations.
APARTME NT HOUSES
LOCAL BANKS IN NEED OF
LARGER QUARTERS.
Big Addition to Local Hotel in Con-
templation-Fads in
Architecture.
APARTMENT HOUSES

Building activity in the District, as re-
fiected in the permits issued by Acting Build
ing Inspector Poynton, Is apparently in
creasing slightly after period Of several
weeks Of comparative quiet. The number
of permits called for in the building in
spector's office has varied only slightly dur
Ing recent weeks. but the past seven days
have seen plans completed for about half
dozen structures OF more than ordinary size
and value.
OF these probably no building operations
more closely Indicate the increasing pros
perity Of the general population of the city
than the need for larger quarters evidenced
by some Of the savings banks. One Of the
permits issued this week was for $4,000
one-story bank building at 312 Pennsylvania
avenue, which. when completed will be the
new home Of the East Washington Savings
Bank. Besides this. 1t was reported today
among building authorities that the Home
Savings Bank. 7th street and Massachusetts
avenue northwest, contemplates establish
ing soon two branches. one at the corner OF
7th and H streets southeast, and another on
7th street southwest.
In Georgetown one of the largest opera
lions undertaken recently Is the addition
to the First Baptist Church. 9th street
and Dumbarton avenue. for which per-
NIT was granted by the building inspector
yesterday.
Apartment houses, too. are rapidly grow
ing in number. at least three owners hay
Ing secured approval of their plans by the
District authorities this week. The largest
Of these Is that which Thomas H. Melton
will erect at the Intersection Of Rhode Is
land avenue and street northwest. An
other, to cost $4,000, and which will have
store rooms beneath, has been financed by
Louise M. Bride, and 1t will occupy the lot
at 808 Pennsylvania avenue southeast. Not
far away s. J. Brinkley has planned to
SOepd KID GnO in building anartmGnt9
with stores on the ground floor, at 103 and
7O0 Sth street southeast.
Addition to Raleigh Hotel.
Although all the persons in possession Of
the details are away from the city today, 1t
Is learned that an important downtown i'm
provement will soon be under way. 1t will
be an addition to the Raleigh Hotel, on the
side facing 18th street. and will cost, APP
proximately, 100000 The addition Is to
be of the same height and construction as
the present modern portion of the hotel
building. The ground floor plan provides
for an enlargement of the existing dining
room, and there will be an elaborate new
kitchen. the location of which will be prac-
ttcally in the center of the block.
The ground upon which the addition will
be erected was purchased year or moro
abo by the company controlling the Raleigh
Hotel.
Fads in Architecture.
Discussing fads in architecture, a student
Of the subject declares that only few
years ago a Jig saw was employed as a
principal agent in covering houses with
sort of architectural lingerie. A plain sur
face was regarded with horror. panels were
placed where panels should not be. and
these were frequently filled with radiating
pieces resembling crudely the rays OF the
setting sun. Turned columns without tho
slightest beauty in outline, inane little bal
comics. useless cast-iron ratings and score
of such meannesses generally overwhelmed
all that might otherwise have been inoffen-
sive. How the alternate oscillation has
swung US from these puerilites to an affecta-
ton of simplicity which at it's best Is so nom
committal as to greatly lack character as its
| worst Is positively as exuberantly foolish
as anything to be found in the 'jig-saw'
style Of architecture, lately deceased, but
not lamented
Continuing, the speaker said: "Simplicity
in everyday architecture is to be greatly
desired for simplicity Is the keynote of the
greatest architectural triumphs Of all known
civilizations. Living architecture is that
which meets the requirements Of the age. If
| these requirements are modest and sensible
| the architecture will be modest and sensibIe
| If they are extravagant and vulgar our
| buildings will be violent and vulgar In re-
| Spouse. Architecture. to be worth anything,
| should express our mode of life: yet how ut
terly fnconsonant with the simple nature OF
| the great majority Of lives are the great
ma jority of houses, and how little do our
places of worship outwardly bear evidence
| OF the simplicity of our religious convic-
| tons In truth. the people are so greedy for
what they term originality that the attempt
| to satisfy this craving gives rise to much
| that is original only in its violation Of good
taste. Forced originality serves only to pro-
| duee charlatan style in architecture, false
| in every sense, even repellant in It's trucu-
| lent immodesty. We are, supposedly
practical people, yet It does not require
much observation or reflection to recognize
how woefully impractical is much Of our
architecture.
Simplicity in architectural design means
| good art in architecture, and this means
perfect adaptation to circumstances. Good
art Is therefore eminently practical. and in
| discriminate ornament. whether 1t be the
thin extravaganza of a passed decade or the
monstrous affectation Of simplicity SO prev
alent today, is not practical. II thought
really lies at the base of propriety and our
work displays an absence of mind, then
there can be no fitness in 1t: for fitness de-
mands constant consideration and the care
full weighngs OF the conditions which are
supposed to necessitate the feature. How
little consideration Is sometimes accorded
the fitness of thing is apparent on all
sides.
Fundamental Principal of Design.
THAT a thing of beauty Is joy forever
is so trite a saying one feels obliged to
apologize for using the expression. yet 1t Is
the very fundamental principle of good de-
sign; to abandon which is to neglect the
lessons to be learned from tradition; In
other words. to turn ones back upon the
accumulated experience of past ages To
adhere slavishly to tradition Is to be pedan-
tic, but to ignore the lesson of tradition Is
to wander in a maze of inextricable confu-
sion. If read rightly, the true mission Is
simply Il remote colonial phase of Spanish
renaissance bereft of the refinement of the
latter: the inference is obvious to those
who may wish to adapt and develop the
mission style to our modern use; to similar
ly adapt the FliZabethan and to do so In
diligently. that It's fine characteristics may
be retained and freed from equally charac-
| teristic crudities. 1t Is necessary to make
| sympathetic study of that very charming
| and interesting transition period of the
early English renaissance.
1T would be interesting to compare the
relative adaptabiliry Of the colonial Span
| ish and the Elizabethan to our local needs.
| The English (domestic) style has such a
wealth of detail In interior woodwork, such
as doors. mantels. panelings. stairs, etc. as
well as furniture; open timber framed roofs,
galleries and screens, and a remarkable skill
| is displayed In modelled and nodded plaster;
the lf-fi mherpd axarnnlea aouaJ IN M,