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

Designer of The Star model house at Thir.
street and Alaska avenue.
In celebrating at this time the compile
ton of the project at Thirteenth street
and Alaska avenue, including not only
the usual work covered under an aver
age building contract, but also the in
stallation of all fixtures and special
fittings. due credit must be given to
the enterprise and efficiency of the
builders. The hope and effort of the
understand I might say OF the ar
chitect alSo-has been to gather and
coordinate all the numberless details
that go TO the building of a modern
home and present TO the public the
picture of such a home, complete in
all it's details. The lot has q COM
manding situation, with three street
frontages, and, when plans now being
ing developed fully materiaiize. will
stand at the very gateway TO the new
residential section, Shepherd Park.
Lot of Unusual Shape.
AS often happens in such cases, the
unusual form of the lot, that at first
glance might seem to present difficult
ties to a successful placing Of house
and garden, turned out, on detailed
study. to be a real asset toward Sc
curing an individual and distinctive
treatment.
The builders have spared no effort
to establish the grades in just the
right relation to secure the desired
picture The necessary terraclng has
been formed with long and easy slopes,
instead of the steep, sharply defined
and mechanical treatment commonly
employed. These adjustments of
grade and placing of various features
have to be quite definitely planned
from the beginning of the work in
order to insure satisfactory compile
ton of the picture on the last lap of
the enterprise.
Placing the main front parallel with
Alaska avenue affords an exceptional
opportunity to secure the desirable
diagonal orientation of the house. in
surfing sunlight in each room at some
time of day.
Curved Garage Driveway.
In this special case other incidental
advantages from this position occur.
one of which is the curved garage
driveway from Hemlock street, en-
aiding the garage doors to be much
less conspicuously placed than usual.
an effect still further enhanced by
setting them back in the shadow OF a
recess formed by the projecting floor
of the porch above; this, together with
a subdued color for the doors, results
in a much less obtrusive effect than
would otherwise be possible.
At the beginning of the work the
excavation for this driveway from
street to garage facilitated the taking
out of the dirt for the entire cellar.
The concrete roof of this built-in ga
rage serves as a floor for the covered
porch and open terrace Of the first
story, which is but two or three steps
above the garden grade.
The convenient cellar, on grade with
the driveway, contains a full compile
ment of the usual appliances. includ-
ing a hot-water boiler for heating the
house, with radiators throughout.
A storage system gas water heater,
with insulating cover, for hot water
supply to fixtures; laundry tubs under
a full size window opening on a re-
cessed area from the driveway, and
servants toilet, this, in addition to
the two bathrooms and sink in kitch-
en- upstairs, afford a pretty complete
plumbing equipment for house OF
this size.
Stone Steps in Approach.
The approach to the front entrance
on Alaska avenue Is by short flight
of stone steps, fianked by stone cop
ing blocks at each side, leading to
walk of rectangular f1agstones. This
provides pleasing approach in quiet.
varied gray tone, that harmonlzes
with the adjoining lawn. The main
entrance platform, however, is of con-
crete. but here some departure from
the wide expanse of plain concrete
has been sought by tinting the center
area, as a panel, in red and treating
the margin with a coating to secure
a warmer and more sympathetic tone
of concrete color. This platform sup
ports the two wooden benches that
flank the entrance, designed to afford
comfortable seats, with sloping backs.
The Entrance Door.
The entrance door, with it's panel
ing. side lights and transom panels
above, is also designed to form an i'm.
portant feature. On entering the GEN.
trail hall the motive Of the main floor
is at once apparent, as there is a clear
vista through an arched opening to
the French doors at the opposite end
of the hall, and beyond to the little
garden and, still farther on, to Hem
lock street.
The French doors. with sheltering
hood and arched window above, that
occurs on the stair 1dllulilS, together
with the small ironrailed platform,
are all details that aid in maintaining
the Importance of this side of the
house. Both wings of the house pro-
iect beyond the main building on this
side, an arrangement that affords con-
venient view Of the garden from the
covered porch Of the living room.
Returning to the entrance hall, a
flight of broad and easy steps leads
to the upper landing, on which is an
arched window, which amply lights
the stairs and upper hall.
Tho living and dining rooms IN