Evening star., 1932-04-27
ARCHITECTS STUDY
|. HOUSING PROBLEM
Needs of the Lower Income
Groups Discussed at
Institute Session.

Housing that meets the needs of the
| lower income groups, for which no
adequate" provision ever has been
! made, is the aim of studies now being
conducted by architects, Robert D.
Kohn, New York. president Of the
American Institute of Architects,
! declared today at the opening session
of the institute at the Mayf1oWer Hotel.
This is one of the objectives of
! studies of the economic aspects OF
housing and the uses of land which
he reported are now under way
The convention, which marks the
| 18th anniversary of the founding OF
the institute. is being attended by
large body of delegate architects
from chapters throughout the United
States.
Particular interest here will be
attached to the Bicentennial conference
on the plan and development Of the
National Capital, to be held Friday
morning. The institute for years has
maintained a vital interest IN the
plans for the development Of the
Capital, through Special Committee
which has closely followed progress
made and future planning.
Peaslee to Preside.
Horace W. Peaslee CT this city,
second vice president of the institute,
will preside over this meeting.
Reporting progress in the study OF
means of producing more adequate
housing for the low income groups OF
Americans, President Kohn declared;
The construction industry is almost
paralyzed; millions of its technicianS
and workers are idle. 1t is essential
to find work for architects in field
in which there is a social need for
service, one that can be met with
economically sound projects.
"One such field is that of large-scale
housing to meet the needs of income
groups for which little building ever
has been done in this country. The
study of ways and means is still in its
beginning, yet the architects have been
trying to clarity the basic principles
on which any solution must be
founded"
Notable progress has been made in
the past year. Mr. Kohn added, in the
work of unification of the architectural
profession and the building industry.
The recent formation of the Con-
struction League, he said, promises to
inaugurate a new era for the industry
Thirty or more national associations
are expected to affiliate with the league
in an attempt to create an unusual
type Of deliberative conference in
tended to give constituent organi-
Zaticns knowledge of the work of the
others toward better public service,
he said.
Study Reports Asked.
While the league is now in a
formative state, he reported, 1t has
started work by asking for reports Of
studies being made by different
organizations on the inequities of
bidding practice; by supporting a
continuation Of public building pro-
grams during the depression, and by
seeking to discover what can be done
to make available the capital of the
construction industry itself to finance
much needed construction, particularly
in the field of large-scale housing
operations and slum clearance.
Wider employment of private archi-
tects in Federal building projects,
protection of the Nations historic
monuments, and public instruction in
art appreciation were set out by MI
Kohn as other major fields OF desirable
architectural activity.
Mr.. Kohn denounced the struggle
for profits" which he said now is
inviting world disaster, and counseled
architects to cling to their insistence,
even at this time, upon the Importance
of the professional ideal. He brought
out that fortunes disappear and
civilizations have been wiped out. yet
the great works of literature, painting,
sculpture and architecture remain as
an everlasting indication Of what Is
really permanent"
A forum on the economics of site
planning and housing is being held
this afternoon, under leadership of
Frederick Bigger of Pittsburgh. w. R.
B. Wilcox Of Eugene, Greg, delivered
an address on the effects of various
methods of taxation upon archi-
tectural practice.
Others scheduled to speak are
Henry Wright and Frederick L.
Alderman of New York, Eugene H.
Klaber of Chicago and Abram Gar
field of Cleveland Frank c. Bald
win of Washington, secretary of the
institute, submitted the report OF the
Board Of Directors, and Edwin Berg
strom, Los Angeles, submitted the
treasurer's report.
Action to promote cooperation
among various elements of the con-
struction industry will be taken by
the delegates to the convention.
The 18th anniversary of the institute
will be celebrated at banquet
session Friday evening officers will
be elected for the new year and fellow
ships and other honors will be awarded.