The Washington times., 1925-11-21

no building be erected that In I'M
safe or, dangerous to health. But
there is not the same concern that
no building be erected that mars
the surrounding landscape. In q
very real sense every house IL an
integral part Of community life,
even though the law IL not invoked
to compel all builders to follow
sound architectural practices.
Community spirit manifesting
itself In the desire for home owner
ship has been more effective than
any law could be In bringing about
a demand for good architecture.
We have come to know that the
highest levels Of our community
life today are the sound guarantee
against the erection Of unsightly
dwellings.
The characteristics Of good archi-
ltecture are simplicity, straight for
wardness, and truth. Fashions and
fads are avoided. Good architec-
ture is premeninently practical. In
small houses the practical can be
accomplished at small cost. The
most humble dwelling may have all
the elements that make a perfect
architectural unit.
Consideration must be given to a
study of the most suitable style
of house for the location consider
ing the requirements of the family,
the climatic conditions, the avail
ability and suitability of building
materials, the comparative costs
in terms of service, and the limits
| of the purse.
Waste Big Factor
Unessentials and wasteful fea-
lures wherever used produce COM
pIicated construction, inappropriate
use of materials, and dollar waste.
Good architecture for small
houses is largely common sense so
applied as to make the difference
between a house which is a mere
shelter from the. elements, and a
home which is beautiful, comfort
able and durable.
Many Of the new houses shown
in current architectural magazines
are almost exact replicas OF the
buildings of two hundred years ago.
The designers of the old colonial
buildings invariably followed the
dictates of good design and COM
mon sense.
The natural conditions of the lot
before determining the plan and
style OF the house. Grade, per-
manent trees, exposure to the sun
and wind, street frontage, and the
types of homes in the neighborhood
are important factors. The house
plan should be adapted to the size
and shape of the lot. Broad lots
should have type of plan in
which the broad side of the house
faces the street. When shallow lots
force the placing of the house near
| the street, the use of hedges, gate
ways, and enclosed porches will
partially offset this disadvantage.
The elevation should be studied
with the plan in order to produce
good design. For appearance, as
well as. for good drainage, the
ground should slope away from a
building in order that the building
may not seem to be standing in
hollow.
A good plan must grow from the
foundation up. Each part of the
building must have its function, and
each subdivision OF the plan must
be studied with respect to the other
parts. But plan should govern the
details Of design.
Symmetry Factor
With the exception Of the Colon
ial type, small houses usually as
sumo an unsymmetrical form. The
units of all forms are the square
or the rectangle.
Geometry plays an important part
in the planning OF small houses.
The various geometrical units
usually are arranged around =