Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-04
Home Owning and Building Page for Washington and Its Suburbs
THIRD OF STAR MODEL HOMES
ATROCK CREEK PARK ESTATES
Latest of Dwellings to Be Erected Will
Be of Stucco and Brick, Built on
Combined Cottage Lines.

Presenting a new phase of the
better homes demonstration which
Tha Star is sponsoring this year in
conjunction with the national move
ment for more extensive home own
ership and for the building of better
dwellings,. The Star model homes
committee today announced plans and
specifications for the third of the
five exhibition houses which will be
located in Washington and its sub.
urbs.
Two Of the model homes already
are under construction-one in Yves
lev Heights and another in Lyon VII
lage. Na.-and the building Of the
last two will be started later in the
Summer.
The third of the 1927 series of
model homes viii he built on a large
rlot in the Rock Creek Park Estates
subdivision ON Orchid street. near the
intersection with Poplar lane. Plans
made public by Capt. II. c. White
hurst, chairman of the model homes
committee, which is in charge of the
demonstration call for the erection
Of a nine-room. two-story and base
ment houae of stone. brick and stucco
constitution.
t0nDlne type ocietleu'
Thii. House. which is illustrated in
the accompanying drawing, will be
combination of features of the Eng
lish and French rural cottage style
of architecture, and was designed
especially to fit into the suburban
nature Of it's surroundings. The house
will be built by the Edison w. Briggs
Co. Washington realtors, and has
beef, designed by Victor Mindeleff,
well known local architect, from
spe .iAcations outlined by the Home
Ownt:s' Institute, Inc, of New York,
which is cooperating in the demon
etration.
Construction of this model home
will be begun within a few days, and
1t is scheduled to be completed, fur
nished and equipped throughout by
September "a. when it will be thrown
open for formal public inspection.
The house will be located on
commanding position overlooking
section that has been laid out along
lines preserving the natural contours
of the land, with its wooded ridges,
grassy slopes and ravines. The situa-
ton Of the lot is such that the house
will have the advantage of a chang
ire perspective as the place is APP
preached along the curving lines OF
Orchid street. In addition. the house
will be set back an unusual distance
from the street. making possible
SPACIOUS unbroken lawn on the street
front. To further this effect. the
entrance walk and the garage drive
way are widely separated.
Open Vista Entrance.
The position of the entrance per-
nits an open vista straight through
the stair hall and corridor to the init
mate garden and the view beyono,
opening out to paved terrace, part
" covered by open pergola rafters
1The entrance itself is protected by a
sheltering porch to the southwest.
The conllnodious living room, en-
tered by a pair of French doors. faces
the street. and communicates IN turn
nv means of similar doors. with the
den. and serving as an extra or emef-
oeney bedroom, with ample closets.
The staircase to second floor is TO one
side of the through corridor, emerging
above on the stair tower, which breaks
the function of the one.storied dining
room wing with the main body Oh the
house.
The low-eaved dining room, with ex-
nosed rafterS, has two smaller WIN
dows on the northwest or street side,
and is provided with French doors on
the southeast or garden side. opening
on to the terrace shown. This room
also has a fireplace for early morning
cheerfulneSs.
Between this room and the kitchen
occurs a combination serving pantry
and breakfast alcove. The kitchen has
a roomy storage pantry, double
drainboard sink, a cupboard, gar
bage incinerator and range. all OF
these features located in an extension
that permits an open-to-the-peak treat
ment of the ceiling, insuring thorough
removal of heat and odors. and special
ventilation by means of half-round
gable window.
Ascending to the second floor, we
find three bedrooms and two baths.
The relation of the open-raftered din
ing room to the main roof admits of
placing a small balcony on this floor
overlooking the dining room, as
suitable location for the radio loud,
speaker. The end bedrooms are open
TO the roof, with exposed rafters. af-
fording a liberal height of vertical
wall at the sides; the center room is
full height, with level ceiling.
In the cellar and garages roomy
storage is provided in the center, con-
venient to the stairs; also boiler
room with coal storage, and > by
IA room for the maid; above ground
and with light from a full height triple
window, opening on the driveway
court. Under the kitchen are located
the laundry and toilet for the base
ment, with convenient access to the
Enclosed service and drying yard.
The garage is located TO the north
east and is accessible from inside the
house, it's floors being somewhat
higher than the general basement
floor, to minimize the necessary drop
or ramp for access. The doorway to
the double garage, ID feet wide, faces
the street, but is unObtrusive because
of the little forecourt, with tail gates,
that closes it off from view.
Low Rambling Appearance.
Exteriorly the house is designed to
convey the low rambling appearance
characteristic of much of the older
English and Norman French farm
architecture. Stone masonry is largely
used in the first story, where it can
be handled most economically.
The brick work of front gable is but
n slight extension of the necessary
brickwork of the chimney and else
where stucco is employed, over base
OF cinder concrete blocks. Where
radiators occur under windows, they
are recessed i'm the thickness of the
walls. and Wire sucl. diminished
thickness becomes necessary brick
work * frankly inserted to meet the
case. aS elsewhere where thin2er sec
lions of wall may be needed.
This brickwork is to be carefully Sc
lrrtcd for color, 10 blend tremendously
with the adjoining stonework.
The eXCavated earth from cellar
Will he utilized on the premises to en-
nance the slight variation in the to-
biography of the lot, instead Of at
tempting TO bring the entire lot to one
level before starting.
Reverting 10 the plot plan. the lay.