New-York tribune., 1922-06-11
By L. Porter Moore

~ ~, sc-trol OF the American Insti-
g. Grehitects. Within the year IL
w s.,.ir.ted that thirteen regional
= ~ architects will be supplying
s.,ss go small house builder who desires
,,ssllv worked out plans. specihea-
-. ard architectural consultation at
w ,sst according 70 the report Of
sl.s, 4. Brown chairman Of the Com
s..s an Small Houses. az presented
ss..v.sfth annual convention Of the
,-.resn Institute OF Architects. which
- "a three-day session here last
rrst ~. IT, r.A
...5 - somewhat similar plan serv-
:. a, the home builder st the May,
-, eo,vcn.ior % the American In
..',r,. Of Architects. held at Wash
80 80, tnis small house service bureau
"a was presented The National
s-,p Hous. Service Bureau Of the
is,[s3 ctstcs. Inc. since organized. is
-. ,arert organization directing tho
-. ..,;,T,,,s Of these thirteen regional
s.,,,us 10 be established. controlled by
-. ImerjcAa Institute Of Architects
- ,s5orsed By the United States De-
s,r,nent o. Commerce.
Purpose Of the Service
II. nu-oose and platform Of the
,,,W house service bureaus. accord.
nc "a Chairman Brown, is cooperative
~, and fervice by groups OF archi-
,ee,s. who IN addition 70 their regular
r,,e,ice. are able 70 supply professional
service and counsel, well studied, care
fully prepared plans. spcciiicstions,
working drawings, complete dctsils-at
low eost-ior the erection OF homes up
70 and including six primary rooms"
Thus far. two Of the regional bu.
resus have been formed and are design
ine the Small House Bureau Of Minn-
/ Northwestern Division Succeed
ing the Small House Bureau OF Mime.
sotal. headquarters AZ Minneaolis.
covering the states OF Minnesota. North
and South Dakota, and Montana.
The following eleven regional bu-
rtsus are to be organized: New Eng
land. Atlantic. Potomac. eko Southern.
Gulf, North Central, south Central.
South Western, North Pacific and
South Pacific
Two books OF plans of small houses
,hrs fer have been published By the
bureaus Articles Of Incorporation for
several Of the additional divisional bu-
isars are abou; to be filed, according to
Chairman Brown.
Opposition Is aPssing
There has been some opposition to
;ht bureau, and many statements have
beer made concerning il and its OBJ
leeis and It's effect on the institute
src me profession OF architecture in
gsnsrt' Hic Chairman Brown in MAX
hy rs rport 10 the Chicago conven-
n'a. ne fact that the bureau is a
N''f soToration issuing : per cent
i,'s'tH paying stock. and that its
n beeis have been financed largely
" nf lumber Interests OF the country
Ar caused considerable criticism.
eon from within and from without
'he American Institute Of Architects,
keoialng 70 Mr.. Brown. Many younger
fshiieets also have objected on the
F'oano that that these regional small
ies'e plan bureaus would interfere
w their professional practice. These
ssssilons and the answers, in part
s'sh as may be Of general interest 20
Ihoune readers-as given in the re-
,oii Of the committee on small houses
'ollow:
How much money is the bureau
rakinC7"
Answer: The United States Bureau
not making any money. and will not
VI the bureau is funetioning more
. gely The officers OF the bureau.
y" th" officers 81 the American lnsti-
,te o. Architects. are working with
" salary.
When the American Institute Of
lrehitccts approved the bureau. did il
uprove also the drawings, plans, spec
fcations, etc. Of the bureau?
Answer: The institute snDrovod
nothing more than the bureau idea II
i no more responsible for the dwell
lnss, plans. specifications, etc, Of the
bureau than il is for those Of any mem
Der Of the institute.
Big Help TO Architects
will the bureau force the younger
trhiteeis and those architects who are
getting d living by the design Of small
housss out Of business?
Answer: We feel, not only that IL
vii not DO 50. but that Il will be the
bIggts, aid % such architects that has
yet been devised by the profession. In
ne first place, the bureau is limited to
ne design Of houses Of not more than
sn primary rooms. In the second
place, the bureau. in all 1t says and
Co.'s. recommends the fullest use OF an
architects services In the third place,
except for G few men who issue books
o plans and q very few architects who
actually design houses OF such small
sle for clients. there is practically no
tiiention paid 10 the architecture OF
Igeh small houses as the bureau has
limited itself 20 DO. And last, but not
east. the widespread use OF the bureau
service will do more toward the eou
sitlon Of the public along the line OF
1ood building. and in the knowledge o.
vhai the profession Of architecture 49,
nsa any other ore thing that the pro-
'sssicn can do.
Why did the bureau join hands with
ne lumber interests and by so dolng
is'iaats that the American Institute
q Architects had gone on recoro III
isseI Of building houses Of wood as
aeslnn permanent materials!
Tie bureau has not joined hanos
sih Tie lumber interests any more
iaan 1 has or will join hands with any
whsr interest. II has done work for
w TIMBER interests. and will continue
% 80 as long as the lumber inter
a 'esl that they are getting vaiue
,sFed FOR the money they pay Tor
shryice. Il so happened that some
A other organizations, not LUMBER
- IN communication and holding
s'sRsa,icns' with the bureau long
Ia The lumber interests arrived on
Sene. They were entirely unable
- the bureaus point Of view; that
aust retain the ownership Of the
~ and documents, that II must set
selling price Of plans. that its
.' could not be distributed free.
might haye control Of the pub