ON THE DESIGNING OF COTTAGES AND SMALL HOUSES


PAIR OF BRICK COTTAGES, WITH TILE-HANGING. SUITABLE FOR KENT (PAGE 44)

serious one, it now occupies an eminent place in the public mind, for the
pertinent reason that, owing to the great shortage of houses, many people
are faced with the prospect of having no home. The subject is a national
one, and its practical solution cannot be delayed.
Before the war much consideration had been given to the modern cottage
and small house. The demand for such dwellings was greater than the
supply in many growing towns, urban areas, and country districts. This
demand could not easily be satisfied. On every hand there was a desire
for houses where people of small means could live healthily, and with a
reasonable degree of pleasantness and comfort; but it was often found
that the erection of houses which conformed to the desirable conditions
was not a profitable investment. The accepted standards of rent did not
yield a suitable return on capital expended. The steady rise in cost of
building prior to 1914 brought further complications to the financial
aspect of the question, especially in regard to the provision of dwellings
for the working classes. Nevertheless, many experiments and schemes
matured over a period of years. The results can be seen in various parts of
England. Some are altogether good ; and though the cottage problem is
not entirely solved, amass of practical information derived from actual ex-
periments is available to-day.
The abnormal conditions resulting from a state of war checked the de-
velopment of the housing question. The erection of houses practically
2