Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-27

house will have its usual alley service.
"In the case of the semi-detached
houses q suggestion has been made
which will be presented to the au-
thoritieS for consideration of placing
the garden between the houses and
toward the rear. In most cases this
construction would be low enough so
that It would not in any way inter
fere with the light in the rear rooms,
and whether approached from the
main street or from the alley it would
materially reduce the WaStage of
yard space and the unsightly appear
ance of miscellaneous garages of ma
teriafs scattered throughout the center
Of the block.
Decatur Street Houses.
In connection with row houses on
Decatur street for Cafritz COnstruc-
ton Co., Louis Justement. architect
for this type, states:
This project consists Of row OF
% houses on Decatur street, extend
ing from Fourth street to Fifth street.
In order to break the monotonN or
such q long row, the houses have
been arranged in groups of from two
to four Not only has the design of
the individual houses been varied, but
the 1nOnotony Of one continuous facade
has been avoided by settling back
alternating groups Of houses. Deca-
tur street has a fairly pronounced
grade, about 4 II per cent. and the
customary procedure in such cases Is
to make each house about 8 inches
higher than the adjoining house, the
resulting effect being very monoto-
nous and depressing. In this case. the
change III level In the houses will be
made for each group of houses, rather
than for ecah house.
"The plan of the typical row house
today has been pretty well standard
lied and is the result Of careful UbSer-
walton on the part Of operative build
ers as To what the public wants. In
most cases it Is compact and efficient
and every square inch of floor space
IS utilized. In the present instance
the plan which is customarily used by
the builder for this size house has
been generally adhered TO by the
architect, only minor changes being
suggested for the purpose of simplify
ing or improving the appearance OF
rooms or halls Eight Of the 25
houses will have a somewhat differ
ent arrangement on the first floor,
which IS quite q departure from the
usual plan and which will permit of
a larger living room without sacrific-
ing directness Of access to the second
floor.
The fronts Of the houses, or front
elevations, as they are called by archi-
tects, have been given a good deal of
study in order to obtain variety and
individuality without extravaganza.
Most of the houses will have small
porches which viii give adequate pro-
lection from the weather at the front
door. The use Of full pOrCheS for all
houses has been avoided because Of
he inevitable monotony OF such an
ARA ngement and because Of the fact
that porches, especially from porches,
are not as essential as they were be
fore the advent OF the automobile. For
some time past the finer homes have
dispensed with front porches because
the automobile afforded a more ade-
quate and desirable relief from the
extreme heat Of Summer evenings AS
the use Of the automobile has in
creased, front porches have been dis
pensed with in the better class of
row houses, and the time seems not far
distant when only the houses of the
very poor. unable to possess even a
Ford, will be equipped with the full
front porch. Unquestionably this
should make It possible to improve
the design of row houses, as the wide
front porches endlessly repeated have
been the despair of every designer Of
row houses.
The backs OF the houses, or rear
elevations, have been studied with
view to making them as tnoffensive
as possible. The public still insists
on double back porches. and as these
are built in the cheapest possible man
ner and later screened In the most
miscellaneous and haphazard fashion,
the backs Of row houses are among
the ugliest things produced by man.
Not much can be hoped for, under
present conditions, toward improving
the appearance Of the backs Of row
houses, but everything that can be
provided for without unduly increas-
ing the cost. will be done IN the pres
ent instance"
Describes Duplex Houses.
Regarding the duplex house for W.
Walter Vaughn in Michigan Park at
Thirteenth and Upshur streets, the ar
chitect, ". II. !. Fleming, declares:
These houses will be built on lots
80 feet wide by approximately 100
feet deep and facing west on Thir-
teenth street. The size OF each house
will BIO 20 feet 4 inches by 33 feet 4
inches deep, outside measurements
ana exclusive OF pOTCneS, LnuS allow
ing open space between adjoining
buildings of % feet inches, which af-
fords abundance of light and air to all
rooms.
The floor plans as worked out by
Mr.. Vaughn for his typical house
have been found excellent in manner
of utilizing to best advantage the
limited space in the house. Minor
changes will be made in these plans
i'll the model house. The first floor
will contain a living room, dining
room and kitchen, with dining room
porch, a service porch. built-in refrig
orator and open fireplace in the living
room. The stairs from first to second
floor Will go from the living room
broad archwav and behind
d partition, which has been found a
practical consideration to retain heat
In the living room in the Winter and
one of the several considerations that
Mr.. Vaughn has worked into his
houses to make them more efficient
and lIvable. The second floor plan
provides for four bedrooms and bath,
with ample closets and a sleeping
porch.
In exterior appearance the main
is to keep the cost with
in the limits of possible selling price
for this particular locality and at the