The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-06-06
THE POTTERs HERALD
New Type House Is
Designed By USH4A
"Cloverleuf" Is Novel De-
sign With MdnY Desirable
Features

ferent type of four-family multiple
dwelling, designed in novel Glover
leaf' design and affording many de-
sirable features not found in the or
dinary standardized row house, has
been developed by the United Housing
Authority and submitted to local hous-
ing agencies engaged in slum-clear-
ance and low-rent housing programs
throughout the country.
The innovations in group home con-
struction, dub bed the "Quatrefoil
Plan" by the Technical Division of the
USHA which developed it, is directed
toward achieving and interesting va
riety of exterior appearances, arrange
ment and outlook not found in straight
row house construction, at the same
time providing economical comfortable
and convenient living with an abun-
dance of light and air and ample yards
for gardens and sitting-ou space.
In commenting on the new housing
plan, USHA Administrator Nathan
Straus said:
GAS one of its functions, the United
States Housing Authority continuously
studies improved design and layout.
The result of these studies, the pur-
pose of which is to provide better liv-
ing conditions at lower cost, are made
available to local housing authorities.
"The Quatrefoil Plan, developed by
our Technical Division, marks real
achievement in this line. The purpose
Of the plan is to provide living condi-
tions, better than the convention row
house design, at no more cost of con-
struction than the conventional design
This problem has been solved by the
striking device of offsetting the dwell
ing units. The basic plan calls for con-
struction of four two-story dwelling
units arranged around central axis
Each dwelling thus has three expo.
sures. There is an unusual amount OF
light and air in all rooms and through
ventilation in. both the living room
and the principal bedroom.
! Variations in the plan so far de-
veloped provide. for a two-bedroon
and three-bedroom living units, which
may be arranged in interlockine
fashion.
"a unique feature of the plan is thai
it eliminates back yards and provides
instead front and side yards for eacl
dwelling unit. sUSHA technicians say
this will lead to better upkeep by ten
ants, as all yards will be visible Il
passers-by md herefore will be con
sidered 'front.' IDS.
while strj costs of 81 Qua
'Itrefoil P4an 4 u Sefyr slightly NOR
per dwelling gGiih than in the rov
house plan, thef difference, due pri
marily to greater exterior wall area
will be offset by savings resultin,
from the concentration of heating am
plumbing equipment and the economi
cal use of land.y
USHA technicians estimate that
. favorable sites, the Quatrefoil Plal
may be arranged to provide dwelling
, facilities for as many as 2S familie
per acre with great variety and in
terest in grouping. Such features a
| Fairgrounds, sitting -out areas, wadinl
5 pools and other outdoor facilitie
| would all be included.
. In preparing the Quatrefoil hous
site plans for use by the local housing
authorities, the USHA has suggeste
that they may be used to eve
greater advantage by interminglin
: this new design with row house struc
lures. One Of the many site plans sug
gested would have the Quatrefoil unit
grouped about court in the center o
: the site, with row houses arrange
around the outer areas. Another woul
: reverse the procedure, while a thir
would place the Quatrefoil units at tn
end of row structures.
> In the interest Of economy, tn
USHA also has suggested joining tw
Quatrefoil units so that one building
will provide dwelling facilities 10
eight families. While this would elimi
nate window space from one wall i
, each of two dwellings, it would sti
permit cross-ventiIation and would Gu
down on wall construction as well a
land.
, 1t is expected that total develop
o ment costs of the Quatrefoil units wi
E run several hundred dollars less tha
, the average Of $4,S4O thus ia
achieved for USHA projects authorize
for construction, while shelter rent
will compare favorably with those ar
proved to date and which range fror
Sl0.S7 per dwelling unit in the Sout
: to 1917 in the, large cities of tn
, North.
r With approximately 200 low-ren
, housing projects scheduled for con
!. struction in the coming year, USHl
. | Officials helinMn a substantial nunhe