International studio (26.1905)

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" ^—1 DGEHILL," AN ANGLO-AMERI-
)_i CAN HOME. BY FRANK CHOU-
' TEAU BROWN.
I AM FREQUENTLY asked why it is that
none of our American country houses possess any
of the charm that is so marked an attribute of a
similar type of residence in England. The question
is one that cannot fail to occur to any travelied
American, and has probably been already answered
many times in as many different ways.
The two principle reasons lie in the lack of age
in our buildings themselves, along with a corres-
ponding lack of architectural and historical asso-
ciation and sentiment; and in the very general dis-
regard of the surroundings and natural accessories
of the house, a subject given great importance in
England, where the science of Garden Architecture
in forming a setting for a building has probably
attained its highest development. The factor of
age is even important in the secondary considera-
tion, as the land immediately around the house itself
cannot be treated until the dwelling is completed,
and a great deal of the effect of English architecture
depends upon the partial screening of the building
itself by detached shrubbery or overrunning vines.
In part, too, the distinction lies in a difference of
material, as in England the dwelling of wood is so
rare as to be substantially regarded as nonexisting,
and the stateliest country house as well as the hum-
blest cottage is built of stone or brick. What a
direct contrast this furnishes to our procedure in
America, where the use of the latter materials
(although modernly more often employed) is still
the great exception! It is also only by the use of
these materials that we can obtain a surface over
which it is safe to train vines and against which
shrubbery may be planted without possible fear of
the deterioration of the surface of the building.
After once adopting the material and selecting
a location for the dwelling that allows of the after-
development of its surrounding by shrubbery and
planting of various kinds, it then only remains to
adopt some architectural style that will have the
same suggestions of historical associations and
sentimental charm as is possessed by the suburban
architecture of England.
I hasten to add that no direct copying of their
architectural forms is intended, or should be en-
couraged, inasmuch as it would prove to be utterly
out of place in our American landscape and our
dwelling surroundings; while our living require-
ments are entirely different in this country from
those that exist in England. Not only are our living

requirements quite different, but this naturally re-
sults in a very different arrangement of the plan;
and it is, after all, in the plan itself that the solution
of every house problem must be determined. Not
only is this true so far as the arrangement of the
rooms is concerned, but also even as regards the
exterior treatment of the house as well; though as
yet its vital importance is, in this connection, very
seldom realized by the client. One reason that the
modern so-called "Colonial" type of house is so
rarely successful is largely because of the attempt
made to force a plan, that in every separate part is
opposed to the principles of which the Colonial
facade was the direct outgrowth, into a little under-
stood and ill assorted garment.
The accompanying drawings show a house that
is offered in part answer to the question that stands
at the beginning of this article. Whether the needs
of the American family and its life have been suc-
cessfully met or not is left to the individual judg-
ment of the reader. The facts governing the devel-
opment of this especial problem are given and he is
left to make his own deductions. But that its
exterior suggests something of the simplicity and
effect of the English dwelling I think cannot be
disputed.
As was stated first, it is on the plan that the entire
question must be fought out and settled, so let us
take up each floor separately and see in what way
they have met the problem and just what the prob-
lem was. These floor plans should further indicate
by how much it was necessary to deviate from the
conventional arrangement to produce this result,
and whether such deviation has proved to be a
betterment to the plan or not.
The main conditions are these. The situation is
on the crest of a slope that rises slightly from the
main road to a point about seventy-five feet away
from it, and then drops more sharply away down to
the valley below that almost parallels the direction
taken by the road. The house is placed upon the
edge of this slope, facing north to the road, and
south across the valley, where also lies the principal
view.
The owners required a dining room and living
room in close juxtaposition, and if possible opening
directly from each other, and near to the front door
and staircase. At the same time the man of the
house, being a studious individual possessing a
large library of books, required that this room, the
library, be so placed as to be somewhat secluded
from the ordinary social life of the house, and yet
remain in immediate relation to the principal rooms
and be easily accessible from the entrance or stairs.

LXI