Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-26
FASCINATION FOUND
-. IN HOME BUILDING
Permanent Joy Gained in
Sense of Ownership, Says
Model House Architect.
BY DELOS III. SMITH.
Architect for the Georgian Detached Model
Home in Wesley Heights.

BY DELOS III. SMITH.
Architect for the Georgian Detached Model
Home in Wesley Heights.
Nothing fascinates the average per-
son more than the project Of home
building. 1t brings with it the de-
light of accomplishment. and leaves
a permanent joy in the sense of own
ership. There is also the feeling of
security as a stimulus for achieve
ment, and nothing that the family
can do is Of more value as an Invest
ment. Such are the rewards of the
home owner.
The Evening Star feeling the need
at the present time for emphasis or
these points, determined upon the
present demonstration as being a
contribution that it could make or
real benefit to the community. The
big task was undertaken and it was
realized from the first to be deserving
Of most serious consideration. Briefly
stated, the conception was to elevate
and inform local house building stand
ards, and the purpose simply in each
class was to do the very best house
that could be done.
Such a program naturally put each
architect and builder on his mettle,
and the results even where they fall
the wholehearted efforts of, and best
sort of cooperation between, all
parties concerned, for all have been
actuated by the spirit of the demon
stration and the hope that 1t may not
fall short of it's mark.
Traditional American Design.
In the house planned for Wesley
Heights, of which the writer is archi-
tect and w. c. and A. N. Miller
builders, the suburban house Of ira
ditional American design was called
for. That is, the sort Of house that
might have been seen in the eighteenth
century in any section where brick
was available. This type is more or
less familiar to any Of our readers
who have been to Annapolis or far
Their afield to Newcastle, Del. or
Portsmouth, N. H. or Charleston.
$. c.
Not that the details are the same
I. in the widely separated localities. but
that in general certain basic details
the kind of brick, which were gen.
I orally plain red sand finish. with
small joints, and the openings spanned
. with brick arches and the type of win
dow and door frame, which was gen.
orally simple and unornamented, save
perhaps at the front door. The lines
of the roofs were generally steep, and
the dormer windows small and grace
full. Wherever ground was available
these houses are found to have spread
ing lines and to give an effect that is
long and low rather than lofty. The
surroundings, shade and garden treat.
ment of the Colonial houses are like.
= wise kept in mind as an essential Of
!. the problem.
: The architect and builders. in at
tempting to apply these considerations
. TO the house, now completed at the
corner of Forty-fourth and Hawthorne
streets in Wesley Heights, proceeded.
with the aid of The Star officials and
the advisory committee, to develop
sketches of the floor plan and general
exterior treatment, including that of
the garden. Modern needs and costs
were balanced against the treatment
that an antiquarian might have de-
sired and the architects committee
was most helpful and generous in its
= criticism.
> Public Demands Considered.
: Public demands as evidenced in
other projects were considered, and
'the resultant scheme was that of a
main house about 40 feet wide facing
&
garden terraced to the south. At
either end a low one-story wing was
planned, the one to the west being
for servants, with garage in the base
ment. and the other to the east de-
signed for a living porch.
Those who have INDUCED in the
endeayor of planning a house will
realize that one of the first con-
ditions met is that the second floor
is, or seems to be, of greater required
area than the first floor. This is be-
cause of the modern needs for accom-
mediation in bedrooms, baths, closets
and stairs. In the present case it was
determined to have three bedrooms
on the second floor and to have ample
windows at the ends, giving two eX-
posures to each room.
, In describing the plan briefly, let
us suppose that we enter from the
street with a vista through to the
. garden at the south. On the left is
a wide opening to the living room,
which has q fireplace midway of the
long side with brick facing and white
Colonial mantel. To the left of this is
wall space for bookcases and piano,
and to the right door to the porch
beyond.
Ample South Exposure.
At each end of the room are two
windows, and in the west wall op.
posite the porch door is a wide open
ing which gives into the dining room,
Here we have ample exposure to the
south and an octagonal effect giving
a corner china closet, and beyond this
on the way to the kitchen a breakfast
alcove. Through the pantry we enter
a modern kitchen.
1t has been the endeaVOr to COnduce
lin every way to the best standards
of housekeeping. Access has been pro-
vided here to the basement, and also
for greater convenience servant s
room and bath have been placed in
!. the wing Immediately adjacent to
the kitchen porch. In addition to the
cenveniences provided in the kitchen,
extra storage space may be found in
the basement, together with laundry,
furnace room and the usual appur-
-tenances thereto.
/. 1t may be noted here that the slope
'of the ground has made it possible
TO have the house set low with refer
-ence to the street and yet to allow on
the southern side, where the ground is
lower, ample light and air to the
basement
Returning to the main entrance
hall one finds on the right curving'
stair which winds up to the second
floor hall. The first door leads into
the owners bedroom, which is be-
lieved to be large even for modern
standards. This has private bath and
two closets. The windows face south
and west. it being believed that the
prevailing breezes in Summer come
hvin these quarters.
g Provision for Comfort.