Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-26
LEEHE|GHTSH HOME
V|RC|N|AN IN TYPE
Model House HarkS Back to
Earliest Colonial Period
in Period.
BY WARD BROWN.

MTrilitett Tor me MOuel House IN virginia
For those who desire a home with
the architecture additionally in keep
Ing with the early colonial history
or the. country, The Stars model home
at S4se Heights. Va, will be partic-
Stsrlv attractive.
This house, which is being erected
by Ruby Lee Minar and designed by
" ard Brown, embodieS all the ele-
ments OF a typical Virginia colonial
home. Much effort was made to plan
this house to fit the surrounding land
scape and to represent the historical
traditions Of early Virginia residences.
This model residence is a siX-room
frame detached house designed along
simple lines that are attractive. Its
oid-faShloned porch. almost flush to
the ground; its fenced-in garden and
general design all bark back To early
years of American history.
Atmosphere of Quiet.
The lot is of comparative size, being
more than 10 feet on the front line
and with an average depth of 15+
feet. The design Of the DIV cling and
the landscape plan combine to provide
an atmosphere of quiet.
The demonstration house is near a
paved highway, the trolley and the
bus
Inside the house modern equipment
will be used. The hot-Water heating
plant has selfresuator. There
is planned a built-in ironing board
in the kitchen, electric lights in the
closets and laundry trays IN the base
ment. The house will be equipped
with electric refrigeration and the
heating plant will be fueled from an
oil burner.
Features that still remind one of the
II 4 IL Aa
brick fioored entrance porch and the
covered porch at the side with its
oldfashioned pillars. The windows
are placed opposite each other on the
sides of the large living room so that
one can stand on the front porch
and look through to the garden and
terrace in the rear. There are two
large fireplaces, one in the living room
and one in the master bedroom. The
fireplace in the master bedroom is
: recessed with closets on each side.
The other closets are large and roomy.
The floors upstairs as well as down
are to be of red oak. The bathroom
is tiled
Importance of Approach.
In studying this problem the first
question for the architect to decide
was the relative Importance of the
main avenue of approach as compared
10 the best composition of the house
and grounds, regardless OF approach.
AS developed. the entrance is not from
the main street, but from q secondary
street. This affords the best light and
Ventilation. these being considered
more important factors than how the
entrance was arranged.
1t Is common knowledge that break
fast I'm a room with morning sunlight
Is desirable. 1t was also known that
the south garden could be made
beautiful outlook. In this house the
arrangement of rooms is ideal.
OF special interest is the main plan.
which shows not only the arrange
ment of the house. bur that of the
entire lot as well. Too often. how
ever, the limitation OF funds or other
reasons lands the house on the lot
inside OF four stakes and leaves the
adjustment Of the grounds TO chance.
The result is frequently the loss OF
opportunity to accomplish desirable
plans or expense in their accom-
plishment when might just as well
have been avoided.
In this ground plan. which is the
first general study. and which will be
followed by detailed revisions, there Is
a. public lawn. a private garden.
garage space and a service yard. The
garden is to the south and east, with
the garage forming a northern protec-
ton: the service yard is to the north,
screened by the garage and the house.
1t will be noted that no effort was
made to hide the garage back OF the
house, entailtng needlessly long
roadway. It is not necessary to hide
any such element in q composition.
There is nothing more charming and