Evening capital. [volume] (Annapolis, Md.) 1922-1981, 1922-10-07
POINTED LECTURE
ON BETTER HOMES
Dom Barber Says Households
Of Nation Reflect Personality
And Enlightenment

In connection with the campaign
for Better Homes Week in America a
lecture on Improved Architecture"
is being given by Dom Barber, Eel
low of tie American Institute Of Ar
chitecture.
Mr.. Barber says in part:
More than any other form OF buiic
ing, the homes Of nation reflect
that nations personality. it's degree OF
enlightenment, its position in the
scheme OF civilization. A single home
reflects the taste and the character
OF its individual owner; homes in
the mass reflect the composite ideals
OF a people.
We are facing today in America a
great shortage OF homes. At the same
time, we have a steadily increasing
number OF family heads who realize
the value OF owning home. value
~ no means computed in dollars and
cents alone. Home building Is now
being more broadly considered and
discussed in this country than at any
previous period in its history.
The great need in the United States
today Is for more permanent homes
OF lasting qualities of construction.
Our children should begin to continue
living in the homes of their fathers
and TO carry on the traditions learn.
ed In their home life. When we build
cur homes wisely. we are building
that foundation OF future civilization
a stabilized family life.
Az the present time a tidal wave of
Deilding construction is sweeping the
country from end to end
Further. every detail of house.
planning, construction, finish, manner
OF decoration and furnishing. is being
analysed, exploited, and spread before
the eager public in all the public's
periodicals. Much of this liberal ad-
vice is good. much is OF questionable
value
To consider in order however. the
steps toward the cretion of a house.
ton OF site. Here we have two
fold problem, physical and social
The nature OF the ground to be built
on must be considered and IL i'm a city
It's location upon a paved street and
connection with sewer. gas. electricity
and water.
Also, to insure satisfaction, the site
should be large enough to give the
house proper setting. both with re-
spect to the plot of ground itself and
with respect to the houses adjoining.
a small house, in particular. should
be OF design suited to the plot. and
It's location in relation to exposures
aud highways must be considered
shall 1t be on the north or south
side OF street? This depends chief
ly upon the owners choice whether
he will place his important rooms
IN the front or the rear A dwell.
ling on the south side of street, for
example, will be cool and shady in
the front and bright and sunny in
the rear.
Let us consider now the house II.
self Since the initial cost is direct.
ly dependent upon its size and its spe.
cine location, study should be given
to the definite amount of room re-
auired. the amount of capital avail.
able for investment, and the amount
OF upkeep charges capable of being as.
sumed.
Where II is impossible OF obtain the
number OF rooms desired within the
given cubage of the house il is al
ways better to eliminate one or more
rooms than to build rooms of small
or impractical size.
Simplicity and sanity are the fun
damental considerations in home
building Every home should be
composed of the fewest elements nos
sibie; there should be always a
straightforward plan to make convent.
ence the chief objective to reduce liv-
3 ing requirements to the most direct
and laborsaving effort. II we build
more sensibly, we will live more sen.
sibly.