Evening star., 1932-12-17
BUILDING STYLES
FACE ADJUSTMENT
Architects Say Short Week
Will Produce Changes in
Construction.

Adoption on more and more uni
versal scale of shorter working sched-
ules and the resulting increase in hours
of leisure for all classes of workers will
bring change to the field of construc-
tion, both in kind and style of build
thgs.
This belief is expressed in report
by the Committee on Industrial Rela-
tions of the American Institute Of
Architects, headed by William Orr
Ludlow.
The adoption of five days for the
working week is practically an accom-
plished fact and perhaps the four
day week is just around the corner, for
We shall keep on inventing ingenious
machinery to replace hand work." the
committee declares.
whether the outcome is five days
or four days, the average man and
woman will have an unprecedented
amount of leisure time that is going to
be filled with recreation and amuse-
ment. Already the automobile has
nearly revolutionized our manner of
living, and it will be the means of
making the greatest use Of out-of-doors
and the buildings that go with it."
Process Started.
The committee finds the process of
decentralization already has been start
ed In amusement. shopping and resi-
dental building. Establishment in sub
urban towns OF great branches of the
large department stores, elaborate mov-
Ing picture houses and legitimate the
aters and the popularity of out-of-town
apartment houses are cited as illustra-
tions of the trend.
Tne committee draws picture OF
what it believes viii come in the future
with creation Of more time for recrea-
tion.
The additional leisure will promote
buildings OF many sorts for indoor recre-
alton and amusement. Theaters and
movie houses will flourish, great gym
nasia for foot ball. base ball, tennis,
skating and the like will be built to
make outdoor sports possible indoors for
Winter and at night Our colleges,
schools, hospitals and charitable insti-
tutlons are even now at full capacity
and better times and more available
money will bring about a great expan-
sion of these and the new housing nee
essary to accommodate them.
W1ping out the eighteenth amend
h1ent. without the return of the saloon.
but with more general leisure, may well
bring about the European way of drink
ing, and We shall be building beer gar
dens, dance pavilions and music halls,
and. OF course. we shall do it in the
american way-on great scale. with
very big buildings.
Wide Activity Seen,
I'VE shall also build many straight
highways for travel and traffic and
winding roads Of scenic beauty for pleas
ure driving. Landscaping, planting,
flowers, bridges, pavilions for rest. rec
reation and refreshment, public play
grounds and golf courses WILL of course,
accompany these in ever-increasing
numbers.
What the effect of all this will be
upon us as people is another question,
Its answer depending in great meas
ure perhaps, on whether we build along
with our recreational facilities more
schools, churches, libraries and charit-
able institutions and whether we re-
build our slumS with decent habitations.
But architects, engineers, city plan
ners, landscape architects, builders, park
boards and public officials will do well
to think little in advance of the in
evitable trend of affairs They should
prepare for great building activity. TAX
Ing account of our rapidly changing
cor dit1ons and probable mode of living.
SO that whatever is done shall not be
done in the costly. haphazard fashion
OF former days. but shall be planned
with careful study and comprehensive
scheming for the greatest economic use
and the most adequate future develop
ment."