Evening star., 1940-03-09
French Provincial
Style Of House
Possesses Charm
Architect Points Out
Ways Of Increasing
Beauty Of Structure

French provincial style of archi-
lecture, illustrated In the accom-
panying drawing, originated in GER
tain provinces Of France, and is
characterized by extreme simpn-
city and straightforwardness of
construction with the use of simple
materials. The original houses re-
veal much craftsmanship and hand
work which add greatly to their
charm.
" T. H. Bien, Bethesda archi-
tect, has planned for The Star the
house of French provincial design
shown in the adjoining columns.
He points out that while 1t Is pos
sible to capture a large part of the
homely, naive character of this
quaint and unpretentious style of
home through careful selection and
use of materials, most of the
examples Of this architecture today
are faulty, due to the commercial
character of materials, especially
lumber and millwork
Mr. Bien estimates this house
could be built for about $4,000, ex-
cluding lot. This is the way he
would build it:
THE foundation walls may be
cinder blocks below grade on con-
crete footings. Full basement is
recommended thus providing for a
recreation room.
Living Room Studio Type.
"Walls above grade are white
washed brick. Walls of the wing
are brick up to the window sill
height with half timberwork and
brick noggins to the caves .tthat Is
brick which is fitted In between
the vertical timbersD.
The living room is planned as
q studio room with hewn oak
trusses and wood ceiling. There is
a balcony with crude hewn oak
railing overlooking the living room
from landing on the stairway.
This can be made q very attractive
feature. Fireplace should be a rela-
lively large one with the simplest
of mantles, preferably little more
than wooden Intel. Floors should
be random width Georgia pine or
possibly white pine The sash should
be mostly easement and made out
of cypress hand-fiiniShed. The
frames in the living room are not
frames in the usual sense as the
sash should be fitted in the open
ings provided by the heavy timber
work in the living room.
The frames elsewhere should be
of solid oak, preferably, but not
necessarily mortised and tennoned
together. This all sounds very ex-
pensive, but the writer has built
few such houses, and If properly
handled need cost very little more
than more conventional work.
There will be savings, too, in other
materials, particularly in the mat
ter Of trim, peneling, ETC., of which
there will be very little.
THE roof is a matter of vital i'm
portance. The house>can be made
OF ruined by it. First choice is
handmade terra Gotta tile made es-
pecially for houses of this kind Sec
ond choice is shaggy type of slate.
Third, good cement asbestos shin
gle in imitation of wood. The last
choice. wood shingles. Some wood
shingles are good for so years or
more. and when properly laid are
appropriate to this style.
Fixtures Carefully Chosen.
Usual plumbing Is contemplated,
with tile floors and walls for the
bath.
"Built-in radiators for hot water
heating with oil burner, or winter
air conditioning with oil burner,
should be used.
Electric wiring and fixtures, re-
frigerator, radio connections, ETC.,
should be chosen carefully. Fix
lures can make or break house of
this kind, but they need not nee
essarily be expensive.
Plaster should be sand finish in
all rooms except perhaps the bed
rooms and bath and kitchen. Here
the usual white-coat walls can be
used with suitable paper.
Finally, it may be said that the
trouble and care expended on this
type of house will be more than
compensated for by the attractive
ness and lasting beauty built into
1t. Properly done, such houses do