The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-21
TERRACED DWELLINGS
IN FRENCH CAPITAL
One Row Already Erected With Hanging
Gardens -Architects Show Posi-
bilities OF Development.

Recently Mayor Mitchell while laying
the cornerstone of the new Equitable
Building made the startling remark
that the new building would probably
bs the last skyscrapcr erected in New
York. About the same time that the
Mayor ventured this prophetic utter
ance he signed a bill giving the Board
o, Estimate and Apportionment the
authority to limit the height OF build
iugs in New York.
Il IS generally understood that the
restrictions Of the board in relation to
ligh buildings will be more particularly
directed toward huge office buildings
IN the business centre, which contain
almost a city's population in themselves
and which. 1t Is claimed. shut on the
.lght from the street below and threaten
IL some sections dangerous conges-
lion Of the population, than toward big
hotels and apartment houses.
But even in the latter case the
opinion prevails in not "A few quarters
that in size these buildings have also
been overdunc and that unless some
new type OF building can be devised
which viii solve the problem of light
and air for the dwvllers in the lower
stories there viii also in the future
be a considerable curtailmcnt in the
height Of hotels and apartment houses
N New York.
Just at the psychological moment.
when on account ~ tn. new law our
builders and architects are more or less
up in the air as to the future erection OF
big buildings in this city, news comes
from Paris respecting a brand new
typo Of apartment house. really
radical architectural departure. which
has recently been finished in that city
and seems 10 offer some new and worth
while ideas, with particular reference
10 improving the light and air in apart
ment houses and also in greatly re-
duciug the cost of building. thereby
e. helping the tenants by making lower
! ing of the rentals possible. From a
health and comfort point Of view the
increased light and air are also TO De
added to the tenants benefits.
This new type OF apartment house
building was originated by IL. Savage
and c. SaraZin, a well known Partisan
nrm Of architects.
This Arm has specialized on big build
,ngs and apartment houses and has con-
sequent,y had much experience In this
line Of work. They have made care
iul study Of the skyscrapers OF New
York having visited this country for the
purpose and are thoroughly familiar
with tn" big buildings erected here. ana
they affirm that the various modifica-
lions Of their plans which our building
avs would permit offer them much
more latitude for the proper and sue
cessfll development OF the idea than
they can secure in Paris, where the
building regulations prescribe definite
maximum heights for buildings proper
Tomato with the width Of the streets on
which they face.
While these restrictive regulations
nave always proved a drawback to the
1es!gn!Hs and construction of big build
y Ngs II Paris, in fact positively pre-
'tAted the erection In that city or any,
hihs approaching In size our New York
Nyscrapers, at the same time they
nave 10 the ambitious French archi-
Vcts, proved a blessing in disguise, fol
." "ss'0'nt ways and means TO clrcum'
ven, them ana thus find loophole fol
ne building Of larger and higher build
'nsS II the French capital, for which
mere Is great demand, Savage & Sara
''n HN"l'y u.t upon the plan, which they
nave SINCE perfected, for their "Maison
aN''n'n' ar house of steps or terraces
""'oh can readily be made at a very
= ,,"''" cost iutu vcrliable hanging gar
1'ns "' great attrdcliveness and beauty
'"ar'nn5 l!tt.c hooks are provided II
N"'c" "a hot summer evenings the
T''u n"nl dwe.lers may sit amid COO
'r"'fy and flowers and enjoy tn,
r,e'Su''S of immediate rural surround
sS ana the ont of doors IN the yer,
"ea't "i tie city.
M 'l' design of the "MaisCm n Gar
""S The ingenious French architects