DOI issue:
No. 59 (January, 1902)
DOI article:Whitehouse, J. Howard: Bournville: a study in housing reform
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22772#0217
A Study in Housing Reform
general health of the village will be guarded by
the preservation of the open spaces already alluded
to, and by the prevention of overcrowding in any
form.
With regard to the houses themselves, or, as
they are modestly termed at Bournville, “ cottages ”
—of which we are able to reproduce some photo-
graphs—it should be borne in mind that it was
never the intention of the founder to erect big
houses for people of means; rather, he sought to
provide houses which, whilst being constructed
on the most approved principles, and under beau-
tiful and healthful conditions, should yet be within
the reach of ordinary working men. The architect
responsible for the whole of the building operations
is Mr. W. Alexander Harvey, and it will be seen
on reference to our illustrations that he has intro-
duced a large variety into his designs, which are
very quaint and picturesque and revive the best
traditions of country architecture. The cottages are
either semi-detached or built in blocks of four. It
may be mentioned that the nature and shape of the
ground upon which a house is to be erected is
always carefully considered when the architect’s plan
is being decided upon; there is no indiscriminate
adoption of plans which may have been already
used. It is perhaps hardly necessary to remark that
people who live in small houses usually use one
inadequate room as a living-room, keeping a spare
room or parlour carefully shut up, which is used
on rare occasions only. The result is doubly
unfortunate ; the parlour is a source of no pleasure
or convenience, and its existence means that the
living-room is generally far too small to be even
moderately healthy. The plan in question is an
attempt, and, we believe, a wise and well-considered
one, to get rid of an absurd convention. The
parlour is abolished, and one large living-room is
substituted with the addition of a scullery and the
usual outhouses. It is proposed to let these
houses at rentals of \s. 6d. and 55. 6d. weekly, so
that they will be within the reach of the very
poorest. It is calculated that the value of the
produce of the garden is at least 2s. 6d. per week,
so that the rent of a house at 5^. 6d. is reduced
to 35'., and at the same time healthy recreation
is obtained, which in a town would be sought
for in more expensive and lest healthy ways.
r 68
BOURNVILLE : VIEW IN THE GIRLS’ RECREATION GROUNDS
general health of the village will be guarded by
the preservation of the open spaces already alluded
to, and by the prevention of overcrowding in any
form.
With regard to the houses themselves, or, as
they are modestly termed at Bournville, “ cottages ”
—of which we are able to reproduce some photo-
graphs—it should be borne in mind that it was
never the intention of the founder to erect big
houses for people of means; rather, he sought to
provide houses which, whilst being constructed
on the most approved principles, and under beau-
tiful and healthful conditions, should yet be within
the reach of ordinary working men. The architect
responsible for the whole of the building operations
is Mr. W. Alexander Harvey, and it will be seen
on reference to our illustrations that he has intro-
duced a large variety into his designs, which are
very quaint and picturesque and revive the best
traditions of country architecture. The cottages are
either semi-detached or built in blocks of four. It
may be mentioned that the nature and shape of the
ground upon which a house is to be erected is
always carefully considered when the architect’s plan
is being decided upon; there is no indiscriminate
adoption of plans which may have been already
used. It is perhaps hardly necessary to remark that
people who live in small houses usually use one
inadequate room as a living-room, keeping a spare
room or parlour carefully shut up, which is used
on rare occasions only. The result is doubly
unfortunate ; the parlour is a source of no pleasure
or convenience, and its existence means that the
living-room is generally far too small to be even
moderately healthy. The plan in question is an
attempt, and, we believe, a wise and well-considered
one, to get rid of an absurd convention. The
parlour is abolished, and one large living-room is
substituted with the addition of a scullery and the
usual outhouses. It is proposed to let these
houses at rentals of \s. 6d. and 55. 6d. weekly, so
that they will be within the reach of the very
poorest. It is calculated that the value of the
produce of the garden is at least 2s. 6d. per week,
so that the rent of a house at 5^. 6d. is reduced
to 35'., and at the same time healthy recreation
is obtained, which in a town would be sought
for in more expensive and lest healthy ways.
r 68
BOURNVILLE : VIEW IN THE GIRLS’ RECREATION GROUNDS