The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-18
WW = DIRK well planned is we'll ad-
NN vanced and holds the almost

~ vanced and holds the almost
certain promise of being sat
isfactory. 1t is a common saying that a
family has to build three houses before
securing one that it is willing to make
permanent abiding place. With the
much wonder it this be true but it
need not be- especially if the new home
seekers are householders of several
years experience, who have learned
from rented donliciles some of the more
, important thing to be sought or to be
avoided. "[
- Home building should not be hasty
process either in the planning or the
building and the getting ready may well
take more time than the actual building.
Everyone who contemplates building
this year, ought to have been studying
at his leisure during the past months
what he considers essential and desir-
able in order that he may have some
+, definite ideas to present to the archi-
tect, upon whose services he ought to
be calling at this time. His study
should also have extended to his exact
financial standing to ascertain what he
, is willing to and can reasonably invest
in his house. p, e..
j !. 1t requires less urging these days
/ than formerly to make all classes of
! people see that the best is the cheapest
+ in building more than nearly anywhere.
A thoroly well-built and satisfactory
house will deteriorate slowly and, tho
not of the newest model, will depreciate
, little in value in a considerable term of
: years with reasonable use such as it is
presumed the owner would give his own
property. The problem of forced sales
II one that causes much of the hesita-
ton about building houses. Men on
salaries are obliged by the experiences
of modern business, to make frequent
and unexpected moves. Nevertheless,
If they did not fear being obliged to
make too heavy a sacrifice if forced to
homes oftener than they do, for the
home-building instinct is strong in spite
of the obstacles to it's operation.
A recent notable instance proves the
value OF comeptent planning and thoro
execution. A firm of English archi-
tects has built group of cottages with
no special striving after cheapness but
with careful attention to good design,
usefulness and accommodation. Near
by were others Of a similar type built
by builder. The architects cottages
cost less to build, rent for more and are
SO desirable that the tenants pay their
own taxes to secure them. These cot
tages also cost less to build than the
model cottage at the famous exhibition
OF cheap cottages last summer at Gar
den City, that were planned as. models
OF combined cheapness and quality.
From April to midsummer is the har-
vest time Of architects and builders,
but they cannot reap where they have
not" soWn or have done SO hastily and
inadequately. Poor and hurried pre-
llminary work always shows in the
results, so all prospective builders who
expect to get the best results will begin
,r.t- .,+ VI
time for weighing well the architect s
suggestions and, for threshing out
thoroly and amiably the points Of differ
ence that always arise when the pro-
fesslonal planner undertakes to trans
cribe the ideas of his client into prac-
tIcal and economical working plans.
There are sure to have to be concessions
for the prospective home builder s ideas
are sure either not to be in accord with
the expense he has planned. not to har-
monlze with each other, or to be SO
vague as to. leave much to be supplied
OF which he had not thought.
There is the same necessity for begin
ing at once to, plan the landscape
features that are to furnish the setting
and exterior decoration. Planting car
only be done in a period of a few weeks
and grading and preparation Of the sol
must begin as soon as the frost is out
Of the ground. In order to do this
the plans must be completed early anc
the plant list in the hands of the nur
serymen that the plants may be selec
ted from the full stock, packed and
ready to deliver just when they are
needed -
Where a landscape architect is EN-
ployed he should decide on the loca tior
of the house in conference with the
architect in order that the natural sur
roundings and the style of the house
may be effectively combined, that the
lawns may be unbroken, that the bes
views may be secured from the win
dows, and that the outbuildings ant
service yard may not detract from tn,
general effect. Where the landscaD,
specialist is not called in the architec
and his client must study to secure tn,
same advantages as otherwise the plac
ing of the house. may leave many de
tects to be overcome and possible
beauties sacrificed
A touch of individuality is much de
sired, but carrying this to the point o
being bizarre detracts from the beaut,
of the house and is apt to seriously eli
feet it's stability. This is particularl7
true where houses are built on lots O
uniform size and at the same distanc
from the street. 2 Without giving II,
much variety in detail, the house vii
be much more effective if it conforms +
its general lines with those about it.