Studio: international art (37.1906)

The Rothschild Artisans Dwellings in Paris

ing apparatus, giving a
maximum temperature be-
yond which there is no
passing, should lead to a
marked improvement in
the health of the working-
>, classes. The system of

heating by steam at low
pressure solves the question
from the financial point of
view, and it is this plan
a? that M. Rey has adopted,

g; Kitchen The exterior aspect of the

buildings from the public
roads and the squares merits

rour attention. It is too
generally taken for granted
' that industrial dwellings
must be veritable barracks,
with high walls broken only
by windows and other
structural features due to
the mere brutal necessities

so

h of the architectural plan;

iv or where style is at all

considered the frontages

rothschild artizans' dwellings: augustin rey, architect are covered with mould-

i'lan showing ventilation of larders . ...

ings and projections or

compartments attached to each dwelling, which stripes of different colours. Both systems are alike

furnish the means for drying in the open air (see pp. objectionable. M. Rey has understood that really

124 to 126). The linen, hung upon wooden rods, rational decoration must abolish all meretricious

dries with the greatest ease, and each tenant has a and useless projections. The most beautiful archi-

key to her own drying closet. This simple solution tecture consists, above all, in the judicious propor-

allows, besides, for the construction of spacious ter- tion preserved between fillings and spacings.

races, where the tenants can enjoy the open air in the In the architecture of industrial dwellings, as in

evenings with their children. A very considerable that of any other building, the first consideration

saving is effected in the construction and mainten- should be the size of the windows, which con-

ance of industrial dwellings by this abolition of the ditions the primary essential of life within the

false roof and the substitution of drying closets and habitation—that is to say, the admission of light,

terraces. There are little hot-air drying closets in the These large openings conduce in themselves to

laundry for use during the frosty weather of winter, give a really cheerful aspect to the building, and

The heating of the building has rightly engaged simple beauty is provided by their details, the

the architect's attention. For reasons already in- small panes so much affected in England, and the

dicated the staircase is not heated; but as regards little balustrade in front. M. Rey has added a

the dwellings it has been found advisable to provide small balcony for the flowers that are so dear to

the inmates with a central heating installation, in the heart of the workman's wife, with little cement

order to avoid what is one of the chief causes of boxes which will need no repairing, and the initial

dirt, the separate heating of each room. It is a cost of which is very small. Though these flowers

matter of common knowledge that working people are a small matter in themselves, they lead to great

are apt to overheat their rooms, and that this is results so far as the building is concerned, for the

one great reason for the unsatisfactory state of their tenants in the same block soon begin to vie with

health. Accustomed to this excessive temperature, one another, and by means of clever fingers regular

they catch cold far more readily on leaving home little hanging gardens come to adorn the facade,

in the early morning. An economical central heat- Is not this the best kind of architecture, the most

127