The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-08-06
Originality Displayed in
Beautifying Surroundings
of Lothrop Mansion.
STUCCO AND VINES
COVER BRICK WALL
Trees to Shut Out View of Irregular
RoOf-Line- Completion Ex-
Pected by November

With the completion Of the $4,000
residence now being finished for A NJ
LothrOp at the intersection of Columbia
road and Connecticut avenue. an archi-
tectural problem unique for Washing
ten buildings viii have been solved.
Hornblower & Marshall, the archi-
tects Of the new mansion, found when
they undertook to plan the Drerenti0us
residence that the outlook 10 the south
was very pleasing
In he foreground stood the new
equestrian statue OF Gen. George. 3.
Mcclellan with Connecticut avenue
stretching beyond and handsome struc-
lures and grounds fanking the vista On
both sides Looking 10 the north. how
ever there was discovered anything hut
pleasing view. The blank red walls
OF three-stOry dwelling facing on
connecticut avenue rose ABRUPTLY and
Al ugly FASHION. while what portion If
me view was not thus ohsrrV1rfed U.s.
maTred by the roofs and ir~e,rr7Ia -i-5--
OF frame residences facing on Columbia
road ---''i ID
How Problem Was Solved
Not only did It seem that these would
prove unpleasant prospects from any
OF The windows on the north side of
the house, but as the slope OF the
ground was considerable L was fuaDa~a-
u -ie nor IN SIDE alSOg and this would
make Il necessary for every visitor 70
approaching from the least beautiful of
al the four sides
How. the problem was solved may nov
De seen IN part by any visitor Passing
the house on the Connecticut avenue
side The blank red walls have disap-
PtdTeQs and IN their place has arisen 4
white StucCO BACKGROUND. with { series Of
iron bars prOtTUding here and there. II is
Slarlng IN Its whitenesS. The entire
mouse 70 the north OF the LOthrOp main
SION has been covered with white
Stucco in panels The iron bars have
been inserted in order 10 carry a light
iron grating upon which VIII be trained
vines.
Again OvercOmes Difficulty.
When at length the vines have spread
their tentacIes over the white surface
they VIII cast their shadows gently
upon the white background, and present
SOFT and graceful whole 10 the eve
But what OF the roofs OF the other ad-
1acenJ- houses 1t is said that Nj
LOthrop tried TO purchase the properties
ana 50 get them out Of the way, but
the price named, when Mr.. Lothrop-s
purchase became known, was COnsid-
overcame the difficulty, but II viii take
few years for his plan 70 work OUT.
me northeast section Of the court, a
poTuon Wnlcn has not q granOlithIC
covering, viii be planted with trees 10
carry out the green scheme Of the vines
on the wall These trees. when they
have reached the height Of the wall.
viii make a continuous background OF
pleasant color. relieving entirely the
view from the north windows, and also
furnishing a setting in contrast 10 the
white structure as approached from the
lower part OF Connecticut avenue.
Complete By November.
A I Harris. OF the firm Of Horn
blower & Marshall. told a Times re-
pOITer that such problems were com
monty solved in Paris and other Eu-
TOIean cities, but that they were rarely
encountered in this country, and, so far
as he knew, never before in Washing
ton
An ornamental grill iron fence IS being
manufactured TO extend from the end Of
the stone baIUstTade which surrounds
the terrace garden, TO the base Of the
vine-clad wall This fence viii be broken
where the driveway enters from the
street by an ornate iron gate
Mr.. LOthTOp expects TO move into
his new home by the 1st OF November.
The architects say that il viii be COEI-
plete before that time
Il never counted them, replied the
architect 10 the reporters question
about how many rooms the house con-
tanned But 10 satisfy his own curiosity
aroused by the question he referred TO
his plans and counted fifty.
Mr.. LCthrOp's new house VIII be one
Ct the notable architectural attra CtIOnS
Of residential Washington