The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-18
PURDUE BUILDS
CONCRETE UNIT
IN HOUSE PLAN
$4997 Structure Is Part of
Research Project at
Lafayette.

/
LAFAYETTE, Ind, Feb. 18.-Re-
sistance to fire, durability and low
maintenance costs are features of
the $4997 house under construction
today at Purdue University as a
Unit in the. Purdue Housing Re-
search project, which seeks to de-
velop better low-cost homes.
All foundation walls, exterior and
bearing walls and floors are REIN
forced concrete. The floor construc-
ton consists of reinforced concrete
joists, which are factory made, de-
livered and set in place in the house.
The joists and the spaces between
them are covered with a concrete
slab. The second story joists over
the living room will be left ex-
posed forming beamed ceiling.
Elsewhere the joists will be con-
cealed by plaster ceiling. The
roof construction also consists of
concrete joists and concrete slab.
1t is protected with one inch of
insulation and four-ply asbestos
felt composition roofing. The eX-
terror walls are provided with a
three-quarter inch air space on the
inside, one-half inch insulating
board and three coats of plaster.
Housework Minimized
After the forms are removed from
the walls the exposed surfaces on
the exterior will be rubbed with
carborundum stones to remove the
rough edges left by the forms. The
walls will then be painted with two
coats of cement waterproof paint.
The exposed joists and concrete slab
over the living room will be treated
in similar manner.
This house is as virtually fire.
proof as a house can be made, and
the basic structural elements are
durable. Repairs or the renewal of
surface finishes are easily made at
relatively small cost. Rightly OF
the construction, it is anticipated,
will greatly reduce the extent of
plaster cracks which frequently an
noy housekeepers.
The plan Of this house is simple,
direct and will minimize housework,
since it is compact and has no waste
areas in the form of long halls and
dark corners. The living room serves
two purposes living and dining.
The kitchen is simple and ade-
quately arranged for the efficient
preparation and serving Of food. And
from it there is easy access to both
basement and outdoors. While the
garage is on the front of the house
it is not obtruSive and is convent
ent to the front entrance door.
Designed for Four Persons
The bedrooms have unusually
good wall space for furniture which
has been partially achieved by the
use of attractive corner windows in
two of the second-story rooms. A
door from the third bedroom opens
on balcony which extends over
part of the garage and the entrance
veStibule. Clsets are we'll arranged
to provide ample space for the
clothes OF all members of the
family.
This house is designed to meet
the needs of a family of four, con-
sisting of two adults, a boy and
girl. 1t was designed by Burnham
Brothers and Hammond, Inc, Chi
cago' architects. The Charles
Gambsky Co. of Menasha, Wis, is
the contractor.
The house is one of nine being
built in the first unit of the Purdue
Housing Research project to de-
velop more efficient methods of
small-home construction. The re-
suits will be given the general
public through the Better Homes in
America, Inc, which now has its
headquarters at Purdue.