Evening star., 1934-07-14
MAGIC VAIN HOPE
IN HOME BUILDING
Public Waits for the Impos-
sibIe, Says Columbia Uni
versity Specialist.

~ LfE nome OWffeTd arc NaItAik
for the wonder house to come IN,
wrapped in packages. delivered TO the
front door by truck. they are going
IN wait a long time" r. vandervoort
walsh Of Columbia Uniyersity's re-
search staff on the problem Of low
cost housing said az the recent con-
vention In Minneapolis Of the Ma
tional Association Of Real Estate
Boards.
Addressing an sll-day symposium
on expected coming new home build
ing. Mr.. Walsh. referring to the
home owner continued: If they are
expecting some magical new type OF
construction which will reduce the
cost OF building by one-hah they viii
never have homes. Nothing like this
is going 70 happen in spite OF the
claims 10 the contrary.
"It is important that we drive home
these facts. because the public seems
10 be confused about the whole mat
ter and glibly refers TO the modern
house and the pre-fabricated house
as II Il were something just behind
the factory door, almost ready TO
70 be shipped out. In this frame
OF mind many hesitate 10 build. 1t
Is time we came 10 realize that In
buying or building a home we get
more for our dollar than we get in
buying an automobile"
New Workers. Views Same.
Robert L. Dawson, New York, head
OF the Pierce Foundations research
in new building methods and ma
terials. speaking In the convention
symposium, voiced the same con-
clusion, that no revolutionary new
process on material. no new type Of
home is in sight. He emphasized the
same confusion in the public mind.
the same disposition to look for
miracle In house construction to take
place, as a result of discussion every
where OF the experimental work ac-
lively going on aimed 10 cut home
building costs.
Walsh. assistant professor Of archi-
lecture at Columbia University and
head OF its research into low-cost
home building, gave some conclusions
for the home builder. His advice:
az. Eliminate cost hazards as far
as possible. For example, cellar may
give the most cubic feet of space for
the money of any part Of the house,
but when there is doubt of whether
blasting or water -proofing is GO
ing TO be necessary. and cost there
fore cannot be predicted, better elm
mate the cellar. Use utility room on
the first floor to house the heating
plant.
-. DO not hesitate to spend money
on making the construction tight
against leakage of air.
IS. Develop the design so that only
stock mouldings. doors. windows and
built-in cabinets are required for exc
cution.
"a Determine in any community
what is the cheapest method of build
ing the various parts, such as founda-
ton wall. floors, etc. Use those types.
IS. Eliminate halls from the plan
as far as practicable, and develop a
sense Of space by getting as big
living room as possible. Take waste
space from bed rooms and dining
room to give 1t TO the living room.
IS. Simplify the details of the
house. Railings around porches can
be made with three horizontal men,
bers instead Of many small ballusters.
Columns need be only simple square
posts. The simpler and more direct
are the various parts, the better the
house will look as 1t weathers."
House Not Stylistic.
The modern house is not Stylistic." 4"
Walsh said. "If it has fat roof 1t is
because that shows economy and use
fulnesS. and If 1t has a sloping roof
II is because the attic space is needed
for storage or future rooms.
Homes are not like automobiles.
We do not turn in the old model every
three years for new one. We may
live in a wonderful age of invention
and mechanical devices, but mankind
has been learning how to build ever
since he stepped out of the cave and
he discovered a lot of things which
are so fundamental that We are not
going to radically change them.
AS matter Of fact, the principles
OF pre-fabrication of houses has been
applied for the last 20 years. In fact,
about everything that goes into a
mouse has been worked out for ease
OF shipment, handling at the job and
Standardization for mass production
at the factory. More and more the
average house is becoming merely an
assembly of standardized parts to suit
the specific needs and taste OF the
owner.
The key to lowering costs lies in
the intelligence used in assembling the
parts. In the future we must pay
more for better plans and for super
vision OF the work in order TO pay less
for the whole house"
John c. Fistere, editor Architec-
tural Forum, addressing the conven-
tion, held that despite the slim sale
Of houses at the present moment,
there are many indications of an in
creaSing acceptance of modern archi-
lecture. He gave the result of q ques-
tionnaire conducted by the Architec-
tural Forum as 10 the preferences of
people of the upper middle class, ac-
tually in the market for homes. tor
the kind Of house they would like.
1t would be of flreproof construc-
ton of English design. with brick
walls, slate roof, easement windows.
thorough insulation and weather.
stripping. copper leaders and cutters.
rustproof screens and hardware. Walls
in the living room would be rough
plaster painted, in the dining room
paneled. in the bed rooms papered.
in the kitchen and bath colored tile
Living room. dining room and bed
room floors would be hardwood. The
bath room floors would be tiled and
the kitchen floor would be cvered with
itnoleum.