The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-05
Architects and Laymen Commend retrospective Contes
taftS oeeK Detals:Size of Building Depends
on Cost of Materials Specified

Judging by res ponses received during
tfo last week TO TIE SUNS invitation
10 draughtsmcn to take part in a coun-
try home planning competition. the con-
test f. 10 he one of the most interesting
ever held IN this part Of the country.
Not only have prospective competitors
shown their interest by writing for In
formation concerning minor details, but
n SrN has received numerous let.
,ers from architects In high standing
commencing the contest as ono which
vii result not only to the great credit
~ Individual prize winners but to the
good o. the whole community.
Many Of the writer's say that the
shoiee ~ a plan for a house that An
Na erected for not more than $4,000.
~ thu basis Of h competition. Il an
excellent one. for while many Of the men
who win take part In the competition
have helped design moro %pretentious
dwellings, 90 few have evef turned their
faculties to less costly buildings that
many novel and attractive ideas may
Ia expected. .
Universal approval 10 expressed for
n. Jury 81 leading architects-Burt L.
Fenner. John Russell Pope ana Brock
rrowbridge-who have kindly consented
m pass Judgment on the work submitted
Nv contestants. So high 10 the regard
expressed for these men and for their
ability that TIM. Sun feels unusually
fortunate In obtaining their cooperation
The mere fact that they form the Jury
makes certain the selection Of the most
worthy designs rs prize winners.
That the puS,to 10 keeniy Interested
In the competition Is indicated by numer-
GUS letters from Sun readers in many
PARTS OF the country. Many Of these
communications tell ri searches far and
Vide for really attractive. we'll planned
rouscs Of moderate cost. The writer's
express the thought that architects who
nave a solution for the moderate priced
holne problem need not worry about the
future. for their field is practically the
entire country. Several interesting
letters have been received from land
developers. one of whom says tina the
greatest difficulty encountered in his
business is 10 obtain plans and designs
for I'w cost houses that Will appeal t.
modern tastes.
"our people" ne writes. 'haye been
~ Tea up on high class architecture that
tlouSh they are able to spend say
s''o"o on their homes they den m AS
nuch OF the artistic as the man who can
""ord 10 pay much more. That is as 1t
H17uiu ne ! 40 nov oeiie'e that at
rat''Neiess ana comfort should be re-
served Tor those alone VINO can pay
hgh prices Tor them. IL is the light or
every man who spends his money on a
home TO demand an economically, artist!-
calN planned, durable huild'ng.
IF we had more men who could plan
attractive, low priced houses We would
have more home owners. Many people
will not buy to-day because they cannot
md satisfactory houses for prices they
ere willing to pay. These people do not
want everything for nothing. hut they
do demand well planned houses
During the last week THE SuS has
been bombarded with questions concern
ing minor details of the competition.
Many Inquiries deal with the same
matters. usually questions Of detail.
which the leaves to the dis
cro.ion Of me individual contestant.
Most r,,uerous o,,e RES are abou, kind
a. .,zs n, naner Ia he ,,sed. There Is
M ming a, mi. matter. II is recalled,
nn,ayar TIM, in the last St,S compet!-
~. -, On. cortes,ants mounted
Dn rsn.c,i,,a 6oor nlan ms.
,ne' 'nr,. 49,, ~, fairly.
~. psa,,hn., S,.ch dra wings we're
neaNy - ,o,,d I've studied
"ro,e eds.S ..n,'.u 80 whon snread
WIN hloio 1870 "
over seveial shee'S In. .spoa
o"7 10 a. ad,n,ssihIe.
" a coiored perspes,I.S W.T. 10
Ihe answer ~, ue.p"e''s ,,n,as
nov 10 DC d con.es' u p.e..! ~
'nough tne nlahner y. IS."5,'. nil
pans perspeeoNe 49, 1v,;s
ave sreat ~s!sn. rrac,,cal
= SERIOUS .,."pu a. 80 n. asked IN
iruul,n. wv .me 90 ,hose mon or
~ nsc.s.ar, ,v whose pictures
80 81 nre,t,sst ~ whose men work liz
49,, a,roe.hia 20 look AT. hut 10 those
A., xinga which combine practicability
erd a,,r.c,iven.sa "a the greatest
degree
No., srv,. ,,s, comnetiion the
,ury naused in admiration before the
rsn work or several contestants, almost
narvellinr at the skill shown in several
Instances: hut their selections did not
include the hest examples Of pen and
mt Ar. though the men who took the
prIzes did show remarkable talent In
ms branch Of their work.
Many contestants seek information
IN the hnds OF material to he specified.
rhat /, q matter for Individual choice,
,he selsst1on being limited only by the
x,.t xL. l,.lIt,~ IN-hutpNcr