Evening star., 1934-07-14
Rirets and Cirders Decorate
Class House at Worlds Fair
Slender Trusses Criss-C Cross Steel Frame
to Form Lace-Like Pattern-MOUa-
bic WardrObes SuppIant Closets.

Exposed steel girders and rivet
heads are the chief decorative feature
in George Fred Keck's Crystal
House" the most revolutionary hous-
Ing example to be found at the Gen.
tury OF Progress Exposition In Chi
cago. Keck was the architect of the
circular glass and steel dwelling known
As THE House of Tomorrow" that at
tracted much attention at the ex-
position last year.
CRYSTAL House." the architects
latest plunge into the realm of mod
ernism, embodieS number Of startling
innovations in design and construc-
ton. It Is built on a steel frame,
and delicate and slender trusses criss-,
cross the steel beams to form lace
like pattern edging the rectangie of
glass wallS-which form the actual
house.
In a number of appropriate portions
of the interior the steel framework Is
left exposed Not so strange on sec
ond thought, explains Keck. Home
owners of tomorrow will be accus-
toned to this novelty, and doubtless
will consider 1t as right. proper and
beautiful, as we now consider the
Elizabethean exposed half timbers, he
declares.
Latest Development.
Crystal House" its designer main
tains, is the latest development In
functional architecture. 1t has no
closets-movable wardrobes have sup
planted them in the architects con-
cept of efficiency and economy. There
are no electrical fixtures attached to
walls or ceilings. These also are port
able and adjustable.
The framework for the floors, roofs
and stairs is of steel. The side walls
are of glass, opaque on the ground
fioor-in which are garage and air.
plane hangar On the second and
third floors the glass is transparent.
Privacy is assured by Venetian blinds
and light Is controlled.
All the rooms surround hollow,
central shaft. which acts as con-
tainer for the heating pipes, the air
conditioning circulatory system and
the water pipes and other utilities.
Built in Two Weeks.
Equally startling among the features
OF Crystal House" Keck declares, Is
the speed that can be developed in
constructing it. Starting at the top
of the foundation, only two weeks are
needed to complete this three-story
edifice. And this means that it will
be actually ready for occupancy at the
end of that time.
Insurance charges. Keck points out,
are almost nil, since the house is
highly f1re-reSistant Furthermore, he
says, 1t does not shrink or settle un-
evenly and the upkeep costs are at an
almost irreducible minimum. The in
terror has practically no hooks or
crannies that can harbor dirt
The furniture for Crystal House"
was especially designed in order that
the individual pieces might take def
mite part in the decorative scheme as
a whole. The materials comprise rare
and exotic woods-superbly finished
brilliantly polished metal and lux
urious fabrics.
Edifices such as The House Of To-
morrow" and Crystal House" osten-
sibly, are not put forth as specimens
of an accepted type. Keck betrays
the intent when he says:
They are laboratory houses and
are designed not primarily to be diff
ferent or tricky. but TO attempt seri-
ously to determine whether better