Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-29
The Sentiment of Home Building
Arthur o. oausen, Architect.

From love so sweet, o who would roam?
Be it ever so homely, home is home.
Three men build for themselves a home
each wants a good looking. inexpensive
home Of about the same number Of rooms
the same c-onveniences and comforts and
each has studied many months, engaged
the best architect he knows of and Is
positive that no house in the city is quite
equal to his. why7 Because each house
is In harmony with the personality OF its
owner, although the three houses are so en-
tirely unlike that comparison the same
basis would b. Impossible. Each homo be.
comes the abode of a happy family who
lcok upon their home In preference to all
others as the most beautiful spot on earth
The next happy family to build goes
through with the same program as all
these who have built before, stHl their
hcme is usually far different from the
rest.
The architect is often asked how 1t is
possible for so many different homes, en-
tirely ~unalIke, to find their conception I'm
enc man and be produced from a single
drawing board. Til answer is that the
true architect, the n an of experience and
talent, has the faculty (Which is born in
him not madeD. of expressing in a techni
cal manner comprehensive to workmen the
combined personality and requirements OF
the home builder, and there are not two
personalities alike, It naturally follows that
10 two houses are built alike among the
vast number of them that congregate in
our cities, except those built by real estate
men for investment purposes. No one tout
side Of his familyO comes in closer contact
with the personality of the home builder
than the architect who designs his home
Before he is through with him, he knows
his family relations, his likes or dislilkes,
artistic tendencies. or, more often. the
lack of them, and these are combined with
the artistic talent and technical training
Of the architect in the resulting beautiful
home.
1t is a very well known fact, however,
among designers that the most beautiful
home built, considered purely from the
standpoint OF design, are those in which
the architects nave been bound by the least
instructions. But in these homes are ex-
pressed the individuality of the architect
alone and not the owner. A mans house
should be in harmony with his own tenden-
cies and individuality. For example, a
home of pure classic design and detail
placed upon a city lot would hardly be In
At1kAAA6 W = Ah1A 0N
nature-loving disposition. For him.. an ivy
clad cottage with a gambrel roof and rose
vines climbing over the doors. The ownei
knows best what he wants and II is tn,
architect who knows best what he ought t.
have. II is when these two men agree per
fectly on the plan, design and details Of Z
home that It becomes a decided success.
The man who pays the bills Is entitled t
the home that he wants, whether II suit
the architects cultured taste or not. I
is an architects place to advise and per
suade. but not 20 dominate or dictate. !
is his business to consider the home build
er's requirements, ideas and building fundI
and produce the most convenient and bes
looking house possible under the condi
lions imposed.
When Il comes to a house or building
which is built as an investment, the senti
ment which enters into the designing o
a house is lost In the attempt to produc
the greatest income from the least funds
For buildings OF this character. the onl!
binding conditions should be the exsc
amount TO be invested, the size OF the 10
and the general character OF the building
TO be built. All other detail. the pla1. ~.
design and the equipment SHOULD be lief
entirely TO the judgement OF the architec
for he knows better than any other whicI
plan or design will meet the greatest aver
age requirements. for does he not know
through his experience in the planning o
other peoples homes and buildings wha
those greatest average requirements are