Evening star., 1947-10-08

1T6cOOH OF space, lreeQOm IN CON-
struction FORMS freedom in use Of
materials, freedom Of expression in
its external forms, and last, but not
least, freedom from the overbear-
ing sameness of traditional copy
architecture"
Subdivision of space is restricted
to essential dividing walls only.
Structural forms are simplified to
uniform and repetitive parts, which
make them economical as well as
design features of considerable es-
thetic value, and not a skeleton
frame for a historical costume.
Glass is used in as large sizes as
can be procured or as the structural
frame will permit. (Mutins, the ira
ditional bars which divide glass into
panes, were used in the past simply
because glass could not be rolled and
polished in as large sheets as it can
todayD
Closets Easily Installed.
Closets are designed in long, shall
low, mill-assembled units which are
easily and quickly installed and are
far more accessible than their his
torical counterpart. The result is
another honest decorative element
out of strictly utilitarian require
ments.
Mechanical equipment is organ
lied and carefully grouped and
placed. Materials are used in SIM
pie, large surfaces and without dis
tortion.
Ready adaptability to revision or
enlargement is a characteristic Of
modern architecture which is GER
tainly much to be desired in any
home. When requirements change
as result of either enlargement
of the family group or a change in
the character of the family group,
revisions are possible easily and
economically In the modern house
with no loss of attractiveness. This
is Of inestimable value, because a
house constitutes a 'long-term in
vestment, and its long period of use
fulness implies that it should be
continually and reasonably kept up
to date and made adequate for the
current familys needs.
Another quality desirable in any
house of a highly utilitarian nature,
which is an inherent characteristic
of modern architecture, Is ease Of
maintenance. A house must be
maintained periodically and faith
fully. The modern house facilitates
that maintenance because the ma
terials and equipment in it have
been carefully chosen by balancing
initial cost, upkeep and attractive
ness to arrive at the desirable prod
uct for a particular use, and then
installed appropriately to simplify
its maintenance.
Modern House Attractive.
Another certainly not undesirable
quality Of the modern house Is its
undeniable wallop when well con-
ceived and executed. Its fresh and
stimulating free use Of color, tex
ture and shape is both pleasing and
restful to the eye.
I have no intention of misleading
any one here that the modern house
Is cheaper to construct than its ira
ditional counterpart. Whether a
house Is cheap or not depends on
what you get for your money.
However, the economies Of the
modern house are there to be real
lied and are particularly appropri-
ate to the small, low-cost house OF
today.
Too often the present-day house Is
an antique chassis equipped with
goth century motor and Goth cen
tury accessories. This production
absurdity is reconciled to this day
of dynamic and competitive indus
trialism on the grounds that 1t is
what the people want. If Henry
Ford and others had believed It,
we would still be depending on the
horse and buggy; If Bell had been
Influenced by his contemporaries
the telephone might still be CLINT
In sOY1e ones eve