The Washington herald., 1914-05-07
Crest Of the Skyscraper Wave.
NJ FRANK HOLSTER.
City Planning Engineer.

feasible is indicated by the experience of Europe
German cities the height of buildings is subject t
close regulation In Berlin the range is from SO t.
l7o feet The minimum height varies in differen
cities. In Wiesbaden, Bremen and Barmen it is a
feet; in Hanover, 46 I-2 feet; in Dusseldorf an,
Breslau ~ s-3 feet; in Munich, 1919 feet and i,
Kiel and Cologne 60 feet, this being the minimum
the narrowest streets 1t is greater however in wide
streets.
i Not only is the height of buildings regulated il
German cities, but also the maximum and minimum
number of stories, which depends however on thu
zone in which the building lies. In Berlin and Ham
burg the greater part of the buildings must be ethe
four or FIVE stories in height Throughout the CRANE
duchy of Baden the number of stories runs from
three to five in the suburbs and outlying districts
three being the maximum, and in the business dis
tricts FIVE. In Munich, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Halle
and Breslau. all buildings be least two storie.
in height. but in Bremen onestory buildings may be
erected. In Baden houses in the country are moi
permitted to be two stories in height
American cities have to certain extent taken
up the question of the regulation of the heights OF
buildings and regulations exist in Albany, Atlanta
Cincinnati, Dayton, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Newark
Paterson. Philadelphia, Reading, Nashville, Rich
mond, San Antonio Spokane, Salt Lake City, SYRIA
cuse. Tacoma. Toledo and Trenton
A strong tendency against skyscrapers is begin
ming to manifest itself, and it may be- indeed that
the crest of the wave has been reached The falacy
of erecting such buildings is beginning to show it
self clearly for they bring in their train many dis
advantages and few compromising advantages Cities
are learning that skyscrapers produce congestion in
the streets they occupy and check the increase of
real estate values in other portions of the city, where
business buildings would be forced to go if sky
prohihted Such
quently left undeveloped with old and insanitary
buildings The concentration of Office facilities also
produces concentration in living quarters, with high
rents and unhealthful accommodations
Skyscrapers themselves force a large proportion
of their occupants to work under artificial light in
rooms with poor artificial ventilation, and they
thus have, both directly and indirectly, deleerous
effect upon the health of the public.
When in the form of loft buildings, such struc-
lures intensity congestion in the regions in which
they located and in addition produce conges-
tion in the districts in which the workers live The
concentration of workers in poor quarters increases
the cost of living is unhealthy and leads to labor
troubles.
Tall buildings thus enable city to increase its
population, and, therefore, have been fooshy en-
ton.
one of considerable number of regulations enforced
abroad. Among other important rules are those af
fecting the ratio of the of the building that
of the lot the separation of buildings classes of
buildins, areas between buildings minimum number
of rooms in apartment, window area, height of
ceiling and cubic contents of sleeping rooms
Representative figures selected which, though
in many not applicable to American cities will
give good idea of the regulations in effect abroad
The area of the lot which may be built in cities
the grand duchy of Baden the regulations of which
regarded being well worked out varies accord
ing to the zone from threequarters to ffhs of
the total In the outlying districts these figures
are reversed it being permissible build only over
from one-quarter to one-hfth of the total area of
the lot. !
The regulations abroad in regard to working |
mems homes require the apartment used by family |
to consist of not less than three rooms living rooH
sleeping room and kitchen. The living room is |
required to be of a certain size-in Niesbaden Is
square feet. throughout Baden Io7 square feet, in
Karlsruhe 100 square feet, in Mannheim 100 square
feet at the minimum in the latter city the kitchen
must be not less than 100 square feet in area There
are also requirements as to the total area of the
room which in Dusseldorf, Magreburg and through
put Saxopy must not be less than $40 square feet
The regulations as to space not built upon are
sometimes based the number of families occupy
ng building In Altoona 10 square feet per family
must be left open in the main portions of the city,
while in the suburbs HOO square feet per family
must be left open
The experience of European cities under regula-
ion has been uniformly gratifying American cities
annot fail to find it immensely their interests to
ldopt suitable and we-planned regulations. The
peetacle is in New York at present of enormous
of useful land lying comparatively idle and not
Increasing in population value, while other portions
unduy congested, with values of true proper
ion, making living more expensive and reducing own
RS of certain classes of realty to bankruptcy
The development of Manhattan has given it the
orm of dumbbell with the skyscrapers at one end
nd the Bronx at the other with the intermediate
ections somewhat attenuated. The whole region be-
ween Canal and Fourteenth streets is largely aban-
oned, while capital has gone into new buildings to
ouse the tenants of those vacated. duplication of
ousing facilities that is expensive and unnecessary.
Development of this kind could occur under proper
equation. II
The Presidents Optimism.
President Wilson evidently does not share the feel
Il