Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-26

upon learning this. protested ElSof-
ously against building houses dlhef-
ent from those IN winch they iau ilFeu
prior to the war.
The protest was so determined that
the government was notified that the
Oeople would not accept the dwellings,.
After considerable consultation. the
government finally determined to
build houses as planned When they
were complete the people reluctantly
moved into them, but after a short
time they were so enthusiastic about
the change that they could not be in
duced to return To the former type OF
houses.
American Ideas Spreading.
American house building. American
IDEAS and American ideals of housing
and house equipment are permeating
the whole of Europe. American homes
for all classes are, as a rule, inuch
more convenient and much better ar
ranged than those of Europe. This
of course. is largely due to the de
mands of d different and newer
civilization.
Nowhere in the world and at no
time in the history of mankind have
good living conditions been obtainabte
to so large a mass of the people as
there are today in the United States.
Home building as practlced IN TINS
country, 50 tar as arrangement and
convenience of rooms and the furnish
ing of time and labor saving appli-
ances, has probably never been better
than at the present time. When II is
considered how many men are deVot-
ing their entire time to the produc-
ton of compact, completely equipped
houses YOU cannot wonder at the re-
suits obtained.
Result of Competition.
In the smaller types Of houses much
credit for. better housing conditions Is
due to the real ESTATE operator and
investment builder. These men have
We'd with each other to produce the
maximum number of ConVeniences at
the minimum expense. They have de
Neloped floor plans which utilize space
to the best possible advantage and
have introduced features which have
added to the usefulness and attractive
ness of the house without diSpropor-
tionately increasing the cost. 1t is
fact that the interior of the house has
received more thought than the eX-
terror While this is true, and no one
will begrudge these. men any of the
credit that is due them. there is much
that may still be done to improve this
type of building.
Exterior design has also made great
strides, hut there is still room for
study, particularly in the row house.
The treatment of the individual unit
counts for little III this type of house
unless careful consideration has been
given TO the grouping of the entire
row. for il is in the composition of the
mass that real interest IS given to the
individual unit.
II is possible to add interest to this
type of development by less vigorous
application of the rule that every
house should be placed on the build
ing line. BY setting some of the
houses back much more variety could
be obtained and more attractive lawns
could be developed
Detached Houses Studied.
Detached houses are also receiving
careful study, especially with relation
to the most desirable exposure. 1t
is no longer considered necessary to
place the main rooms on the street
front. Sunshine, prevailing breeZes.
outlook over a garden view of a river
OF landscape often determine the To-
cation of the principal rooms. 1t is
better TO place the kitchen on the
street front if thereby it is possible to
provide more pleasing conditions for
the important rooms.
Landscape development in connec-
ton with any building or groups of
buildings should receive the most care
full consideration. Much may be add
ed To the architectural design by a
we'll studied landscape setting. The
converse * also true. A good house
may lose much by the lack of a proper
and adequate setting
What is architecture as distin-
,irl Il; II
proper appreciation of all the elements
OF a building problem. Any building,
be 1t cottage or palace, to be we'll de
signed must satisfy two fundamental
conditions. First: The plan must be
SO arranged that it will function in
all of its parts in the most direct and
economical manner. direct as TO means
of access from one part of the build
ing to the other and economical as to
the utilization Of the minimum amount
az space 10 fulfil the purposes for
which it was Intended. Second: The
exterior mass as also the various ele-
mentS. such as doors, windows, piers.
etc, when assembled shall present a
pleasing and harmonious whole.
Need of Pleasing Eye.
Design means. therefore, a thought
full and studied attempt To so organize
inc Val lOuS req ullttllcillS Oi Il puIlulUS
that they win not only serve the prac-
teal purposes for which they are in
tended, but will also he expressed in a
manner pleasing IT, the eye.
A building may be substantially
built: it may have plenty of light and
air: 1t may be well heated and satisfy
all the physical needs. but if il lacks
that which makes it pleasing to look
at il is not architecture.
1t is gratifying to see in The Star $
better home program "a conscientious
and thorough effort nladt. to gather
together all of the available talent to
produce houses which will combine
the best ideas of investment builder
and the architect. The spirit of CO.
operation ana htlpfulness manifested
throughout the progress OF the prep.
aration of the plans. as we'll as the
actual building of the houses, has
been most satisfactory.
The Star deserves great credit for
its public spirit; the investment build
ers deserve to be congratulated on
their broad-minded and generous at
titude and the architects deserve
credit for the spirit of unselfish help
fulneSs and interest in the problems
undertaken. 1t is to be hoped that
the work begun will be fruitful in
ci, ilor Ii in, ha f,,t