The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-09-17

Spirit Intangible, but Exists
Nevertheless - Hooded
Arch and Iron Brackets
Have AppeaI--FeIt When
Approaching House.
BY MOllv Elliott
BY Molly Elliott

Let the Eskimo have his lit
tie cubby hole door, the Indian
his Tapping corner, and the
Chinaman his drapery entrance
to his dwelling. We like to
enter our houses with our
heads up.
Civilization speaks eloquent
ly and significantly in the evo-
luton Of entrances to houses.
Probably no other one feature
of a house deserves more con-
sheraton or more decisively
stamps its architectural char
acter, than does a door.
The spirit of a doorway is as in.
tangible and elusive as the breath of
springtime, but it exists, neverthe.
less. The aspect readily creates in
the approaching visitor a feeling of
cordially. interest in its unusualness.
cul1ousity or, perchance, feeling of
austerity and cool aloofness. You
have experienced such feelings on
approaching various types of houses.
Such personality is felt as keenlv in
a house door as in a human being
and though physically Intangible is
vital and worth while considering in
the character of the ensemble. It
Is In fact, something we are quite
able to create and control at will.
Atmosphere Created
Two doorways may be precisely
the same in design, materials and
dimensions yet if there be only the
slightest difference in the use or
setting of one it may completely
change it's aspect. The general at
mosphere of the door may be
achieved by taking into account the
little things that create it.
a doorway smacking of the late
seventeenth century with quaint
hooded archway and wrought iron
brackets has an Irresistible appeal
whether one especially admires that
style of architecture or not. A
certain courtly stateliness is achieved
by the employment Of a railing
either clear across the front of the
house or along the ramps or even
the slightest suggestion Of one at
either side Of the approach
No material need has ever been
claimed for ratings except the
psychological capacity Of impressing
one with the superior quality of the
building it protects. The amenity
of color and design of these railing.
however cannot we'll be disregarded.
a mellow blue.green color in com.
bination with soft red of the brick
throwing interesting shadows of the
graceful lines fthe bars and scrolls
combine with the flowing lines of
the ramps,on either side of the door
way produces both dignity and in
viting welcome.
Simplicity Useful
Simplicity of line and treatment
49, ooNAoA IN AAit SllldH mouse
well inside its own grounds, and
away from the main highway. But
even here. grace OF manner achieved
by the clever use Of carved jams or
hooded archway or even the design
of the wood panels or the use of
wrought iron lamp or brackets is
never lost.
We must remember that in the
doctrine Of visual satisfaction imagi.
nation both demands an outlet of
expression and requires external
forms of expression on Which to
feed. Without these our houses
would be as uninteresting as a row
Of filing cases. And though a rail
ing or a bracket may have no ma
terial use in the actual economic
structure of the house it produces
satisfaction to the eye and mind
that is worth infinitely more to
the thinking person than the un-
l.