Evening star., 1926-03-27
REAL ESTATE
ITALIAN TYPE HOUSE SELECTED
FOR STARS COMMUNITY GROUP
Type of Model Homes at Fifth and LongfellOw
Streets Will Be Built to Attract the Eye
Well as Appease Practical Housewives.

Among the smaller and popular
types of residences in the National
Capital is the so-called community
group of houses.
Because of the great popularity of
this type and the rapidity with which
they are being built in various sec
tions of the city, The Star in sponsor
ing its ideal homes demonstration
decided upon this style as one of the
nine types that would be of benefit to
demonstrate.
Each of the three houses shown in
the accompanying Illustration will
contain six rooms, a tiled bath, hot
water heat. electricity, hardwood
floors and every practical convenience
to suit persons who ordinarily would
purchase this type of house.
The community group, which IS to
be located at Marietta Park, Fifth and
Longfellow streets northwest, was de-
signed by Gilbert L. Rodier, one of
the nine architects selected from the
Washington Chapter of the American
Institute OF Architects by the archi-
tects' advisory committee for The
Stars demonstration, headed by Hor-
ace Pea slee. The site offered by Wal
ter DUNCAN was selected by the gen.
eral supervisory committee, headed by
Mai. Raymond A Wheeler, Assistant
Engineer Commissioner OF the Dis
trict. Mr.. Dunigan will erect the
houses.
Meet Zoning Conditions.
Certain outlying sections Of the city
are zoned in such manner that solid
rows Of houses are prohibited, but
the construction of rows of three Is
permitted. Such short rows are known
ascommunity houses, and in these cases
the intention of the ZOning Commits
sion has been that they be so designed
as to give the impression of one large
building rather than three individual
houses.
The predetermined style of architec-
ture to be used i'll this group was
Italian. This style was selected, not
because it was felt that no other style
was particularly suited for the COM
munity house. but merely to intro
duce one variety in the general demon
stration.
The size of the houses was of neces-
sity fixed by the width of the lots as
subdivided and by the general size of
other houses in the same locality.
There was, of course, also a restric-
ton in the cost of the building, since
1t was not considered fea sible to put
these houses on the market at cost
greatly in excess of other houses in
the same locality. 1t was also desired
to demonstrate not by more eXpen-
sive houses, but by architectural and
construction ability.
The architects and builders problem
was limited, therefore, by these condi-
tions, and it is believed a most salts
factory solution, both to the general
problem of the community house and
this particular operation, has been
HJ,St design
of the group depended upon a selection
of the materials to be used. 1t was de-
fernined at the outset that the ex-
terror walls should be of brick with
stone or stucco trim, and that, so far
as possible, the use of exterior wood
work would be avoided in order to
eliminate future maintenance cost, a
thought particularly important TO those
who purchase small houses. The use OF
wrought iron and roofing tile also was
decided upon these being essential in
a general way to Italian domestic
architecture.
Florentine Type Followed.
The next problem was to determine
exactly what type or period of 1taian
architecture should be used, since
there is nearly as much variation In
the architectural styles of Italy as
there is in the whole range of arch1-
tectural design. Some of the smaller
villas of Florence seemed to furnish
the most suitable basis Of inspiration,
and these buildings have been given
some of this feeling, although, or
course, modern conditions and re
uuirements of building, the cost OF
both labor and materials and the re-
strictions of cost have prevented the
introduction of the elaboration that Is
TO be found in most Of the Florentine
work The houses were not designed
too elaborately for size and type.
The group will be slightly elevated
above the sidewalk and the walks
leading to the front entrance are to
be Of f1agstone, so arranged that
maximum width for lawn and plant
ing will be given between each ap-
proach.
The center house of the group is
10 have a porch in the form of an
arched loggia, supported upon base
of local rubble stone. The columns
supporting the arches are to be of
stucco, with some brilliant coloring
introduced in the capitals. The loggia
itself will be surmounted by a light
iron railing. Above the loggia the face
OF this house is to be of rough stucco,
colored, with mission tile roofing.