DOI issue:
No. 294 (September 1917)
DOI article:Recent designs in domestic architecture
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21263#0165
Recent Designs in Domestic Architecture
economy and dispatch in the provision of such
dwellings. That the services of professional
architects will be enlisted in carrying out a
scheme of such magnitude is to be expected as
a matter of course, and as much on the score
of economy as for other reasons, especially
where a process of standardization is adopted,
as is likely to be the case with the contemplated
multiplication of small houses. Many of the
leading members of the profession have in fact
devoted special attention to domestic archi-
tecture of this kind, and both in these pages
and in those of our Year Book of Decorative
Art illustrations have been given from time
to time of their designs. Thus only a few
months ago we illustrated some cottages
designed by Mr. Arnold Mitchell, which we
believe have been repeated in various localities.
The late Mr. Edward Cratney, whose designs
for cottages at West Calder, Midlothian, we
illustrate on the following page, also achieved
during his comparatively brief professional
career (he was only thirty-four when he died
last December) a considerable reputation in
connexion with housing schemes in the North
of England, more particularly at Newcastle-
upon-Tyne, where he acted as architect for the
Corporation in respect of the municipal housing
scheme at Walker, and at the North of England
Cottage Exhibition his designs for model cottages
gained for him the gold, silver, and bronze
medals. His cottage designs were well thought
out, and while the convenience of the occupants
was always consulted in the planning, the
general design was of an agreeable character.
In the construction of these cottages at West
Calder the practice of building the external walls
with cavities was followed ; the surfaces were
rough-casted and lime-washed and the bases
tarred as an additional precaution against
dampness. Highland slates of a rough texture
were employed for the roof, and the porch,
loggia, terrace, and paths were paved with stone
flags. Inside the woodwork was painted white,
and the walls throughout distempered a light
grey colour, giving a pleasing and restful effect.
As constructed the cottages contain three bed-
rooms, and all the rooms look on to the garden
and get sun at some part of the day.
Our remaining illustration is of a country
149
economy and dispatch in the provision of such
dwellings. That the services of professional
architects will be enlisted in carrying out a
scheme of such magnitude is to be expected as
a matter of course, and as much on the score
of economy as for other reasons, especially
where a process of standardization is adopted,
as is likely to be the case with the contemplated
multiplication of small houses. Many of the
leading members of the profession have in fact
devoted special attention to domestic archi-
tecture of this kind, and both in these pages
and in those of our Year Book of Decorative
Art illustrations have been given from time
to time of their designs. Thus only a few
months ago we illustrated some cottages
designed by Mr. Arnold Mitchell, which we
believe have been repeated in various localities.
The late Mr. Edward Cratney, whose designs
for cottages at West Calder, Midlothian, we
illustrate on the following page, also achieved
during his comparatively brief professional
career (he was only thirty-four when he died
last December) a considerable reputation in
connexion with housing schemes in the North
of England, more particularly at Newcastle-
upon-Tyne, where he acted as architect for the
Corporation in respect of the municipal housing
scheme at Walker, and at the North of England
Cottage Exhibition his designs for model cottages
gained for him the gold, silver, and bronze
medals. His cottage designs were well thought
out, and while the convenience of the occupants
was always consulted in the planning, the
general design was of an agreeable character.
In the construction of these cottages at West
Calder the practice of building the external walls
with cavities was followed ; the surfaces were
rough-casted and lime-washed and the bases
tarred as an additional precaution against
dampness. Highland slates of a rough texture
were employed for the roof, and the porch,
loggia, terrace, and paths were paved with stone
flags. Inside the woodwork was painted white,
and the walls throughout distempered a light
grey colour, giving a pleasing and restful effect.
As constructed the cottages contain three bed-
rooms, and all the rooms look on to the garden
and get sun at some part of the day.
Our remaining illustration is of a country
149