The New York herald., 1922-06-04
Architectural Beauty Not
Branded With Dollar Sign
ny FRANK cEowELL. of Baker.
Cr0weI1, Inc.

There hasy recently been marked
awakening to the utilitarian value Of
beauty and good taste displayed In the
development of our suburbs and an APP
probation Of the value to their pro-
moters of comprehensive plan with
regard to the design of the landscape
and the houses which shall interpret the
spirit and needs of the people in terms
of recognized principles of art.
Water front estates and subdivisions
on the North Shore of Long Island are
among the best examples that This
country, can show of the. beautiful and
paying suburbs. The restrictions in
this section have been carefully worked
out and the people who live here are
enthusiastic supporters of these re-
strictions realizing as they do that
adherence to these provisions guarantees
the beauty of the environment. and
consequently enhances the charm and
value of each individual property.
In domestic architecture the ultimate
cost is not generally Of such paramount
Importance, for example, as Is COM
mercial work, where the revenue from
the investment is the principal cause OF
the building. Questions of sentiment
and the indulgence of personal fancy
often run up the cost of a private dwell
ing after the work has begun, rulnous
course were the project business VEN
ture, pure and simple. sse-g. !.
In the development of tract OF lana
for domestic purposes the fact that the
cost of the undertaking Is OF the KITS.
importance must not be lost signt OIL
In other words, the proposition Is
commercial one. even though the proo-
uct is for domestic use. TO compne
artistic excellence with honest and Ell
ficient workmanship and place both
upon a paying basis Is, therefore, the
problem that confronts the professional
adviser of the men whose money he
proposes to spend in planning for the
f,iiure homes of the city's population a
grave responsibility and one which Will
'reaiire of the real estate broker even
a broader education and more genera
knowledge of affairs than are commonly
expected OF Lin.
There are many large land develop
ment companies now operating In tne
environs Of our city and their recogni-
ton of an architects servises IN po.n
executive and consulting capacities Is
becoming more general in all classes Oh
suburban property. This comparatively
rev feld Tor the architects labors has
nossibiIities of the greatest interest and
inheritance both to ahimself to real estate
companies and to the general PUBIC.
Tho trend 10 the suburbs and country
Is unmistakable. -.
The Impression held by many that
beaaltv In form and color translated
irto architecture is measured by dol
Iara ana cents is false. The virtues, at
fainments and charm of personality por-
trayed in q human being are not meas
ured by the contents OF his pocketpook
nor is the taste and beauty displayed
in the architecture of his country OF
suburban home dependent upon It's cost.
Tho first restriction 70 wnicn .ne a.e.- '.i
,,on NJ a purchaser Of suburban or coun-
,rv nroperty is called is usually the cost
OF the neighboring houses.
awe do not allow houses TO be built
beye that cost less than $4,000 Is the
crv OF the suburban real estate broker
,,bo caters to the man OF moderate
means
"rhis property "a highly restricted.
You will find no houses In this neigh
borhood that cost less than $%,Vp' ek-
mains the promoter or exclusive resi-
dental colonies. The fallacy or sucn
arguments lies In the assumption that
cost governs beauty. whereas IL may
easily be shown that $4,000 cottage
tastefully designed adds greatly TO the
charm OF its environment and a Ne.Wo
house OF commonplace or freaksh de-
sign becomes an indelible blot upon the
landscape. Many families OF cuitiva.
ton and refinement lack a well filled
purse and cannot afford TO invest more
than $1,000 or $4,000 in suburban
home. why should persons OF this highly
desirable class be barred from settling
In a convenient and attractive locality?
Tbs fallacy is paralleled by the belief
that1 here are no classes In America,
except the rich and the poor. In this
country, as in any other. you can nc
more unite IN social intercourse the re-
fined with the vulgar or the educated
with the ignorant than oil with water
Riches and poverty, on the other hand
are readily amalgamated. A suburb in
which reside both rich and poor alike,
when both are refined and cultivated,
Is bound to be a community OF besuti-
fuI The n0'nss; habits ana customs Of people ar.