Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-27
REAL ESTATE
IDEAL HOME DESIGNS APPROVED
BY COMMITTEE OF ARCHITECTS
Working Drawings Virtually Complete in Some In
stances and Excavation Work Is Scheduled
10 Be Started at Early Date.

All the final designs for The star:
demonstration homes have been APP
proved by the architects and the com
mittee representing the Washington
Chapter of the American Institute o,
Architects, and the building permits
Tor the model homes are to be pro
cured on March g. This keeps the
progress Of the ideal homes vel
within the time schedule.
Several architects virtually have
completed the working drawings
Within short time the excavations
for the houses win have started.
As soon as block plans and perspec
tive drawings are available the de
signs for the ideal homes will be
published in The star. The plans foI
the homes have been given much con
sideration and the special committee
Tor the Washington Chapter Of the
American Institute Of Architects also
has devoted much time to the work
Of creating beautiful and practical
designs for these model homes.
Work to Start Soon.
IS soon as the building permits are
~Nsued the builders will start erect
ing the houses.
In discussing the general problem
and features Of group houses. Horace
NJ. PeaSlee, chairman OF the advisory
committee OF the Washington Chap
ter of the American Institute Of ArChi
-ects for The Stars demonstration
says:
In studying the row projects. one
Of the similar type and one making g
more pretentious showing are con
sidered.
THE first problem that tho archi
Tects have endeaYOred to meet has
been that of getting Individuality into
these homes, and OF doing so without
unduly advancing the cost.
The first difficulty to be met III
~his search for Individuality is that OF
he usual porch, which, repeated on
every house, makes individuality praC
s-ically impossible. II is peculiar tC
'note that In many Of the more pre-
NentiOuS houses the porch Is Dracti-
,ally eliminated. certain outlooks be
ing given such ample window open
ingS that the use of a porch is not re-
xarded as necessary or desirable. The
jewellers in the hottest climates have
found that there is no greater protec-
sion from excessive heat than solid
walls, and this point Of view is finding
favor in local residential design.
Changes Are Problem.
Another element entering into con
alteration is the prevailing practice OF
changing the character OF the living
room during the Summer by elininat-
lng rugs, the use of attractive chintzes
and Cretonnes, and the addition OF viii
, low or rattan furniture.
1T perhaps is true that the larger
number Of home buyers want porcheS,
but It Is not true that every one does.
The operative builder. however, is in
H. = 1.Ynk 80
cater to the predominauing demand.
Therefore the whole problem of the
group house comes back to what the
public wants. The buying public. II
il insists upon q stereOtyped front
porch on every house, must not pro
test against the inevitable resulting
TuOnotony and loss OF individuality. II
IN the other hand the public VIII CO.
operate with the architects in the de-
relopment and use of tho various al
,ernatives offered. such as the open
terraces with awnings, or garden
porcheS opening from the dining
ruomS, and attractive garden develop
Juents in place Of the unsightly back
Yards, then they can get just as much
charm and individuality into the row
house developments as can be gotten In
he most expensive detached houses. In
fact, there are far greater possibilities
lust because OF their greater size and
greater opportunities for treatment.
There is no reason why the row house
should not be welcome in almost any
part of the town, II its possibilities are
realized. 1t must be remembered that
the charming garden cities of Eng
land, which have aroused SO much en-
chusiasm. are after all nothing but
row house developments.
Would Save Space.
Another point Of special interest
IN these developments viii be the Sug
Restion for use of the so-called back
ards as outdoor living spaces. It Is
urged that tho public concern itself
With improvement In the appearance
Of the back pOrches, which are almost
Invariably insisted upon Of maximum
size and consequently Of minimum at
fcntion to appearances. There Is no
season why tho back porch may not
20 used as an extension Of the dining
.oom, thus giving added length to the
ouse, rather than as q distinctly
service element in connection with
ne kitchen. 1t would be far better to
provide n simple platform with a
God over the entrance than 1t Is to
AXE this perfectly good space and
waste 1t on garbage cans. mops, etc.
Inc next consideration SnOulu De
providing easy access from this porch
or the dining room down to the yard,
en approach which does not neces-
state taking guests through kitchen
impedimenta.
with such connections it is Il sim
ule matter to take advantage Of what
,sver space remains in the yard to
pave the center and to plant the
borders, using il as desired for all the
emily needs, from the laundry fl the
oorning to al fresco dining i'll the
evening. than which there is nothing
more delightful. The bugaboO of mos
uuitoes and flies has been magnitied
a. such an extent that it has forced
human beings voluntarily to put
themselves in cages and TO fOrego the
Joy of living which is waiting for
them in their own grounds.
Garage Is Problem.
one other item of special interest
mas been developed in these studies
The problem of the garage is q diff
rult one-the individual garage
which spoils every back ward In the
case Of one OF the row -house develop
mentS the designer has proposed to
Put all the garages in the block on
the same side of the alley. getting
continuous line and reducing by one
bird the total block areas devoted to
garages and alley. Access is provided