DOI Artikel:
Jones, Sydney R.: On the designing of cottages and small houses
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41874#0065
ON THE DESIGNING OF COTTAGES AND SMALL HOUSES
sired. If concrete is to be employed on an extensive scale in the provision
of houses in the immediate future—either in the form of blocks of standard
sizes, or reinforced—-much is to be hoped, and much is to be feared.
One proposal, advanced from America, and embodying a scheme for the
manufacture of cottages in a wholesale fashion by pouring concrete into
moulds, augurs far from well for the advancement of architecture, and the
establishment of good building traditions. Nor does the general use of re-
inforced concrete for cottage construction suggest a much better prospect.
Moreover, this material is expensive, and expert opinion is by no means
unanimous as to its practical suitability for external walls. Concrete, in the
form of solid blocks, has already been employed in the erection of cottages,
and with a degree of success. Several interesting experiment's have been
carried out, one of the most notable being the Chepstow Housing Scheme
for which Messrs. William Dunn, F.R.I.B.A., and W. Curtis Green,
F.R.I.B.A., were the architects. The external walls were built of two
thicknesses of solid concrete blocks, separated by cavities, and secured by
iron ties. The blocks used were large in size, and the dull appearance of
the concrete was relieved by a surface texture, which was moulded on the
outer surfaces of the walls. The effect of these cottages is pleasing, and,
being situated in the West Country where local stone abounds, the con-
crete walls are not altogether out of harmony with the building character-
istics of the district. A pair of small houses, suitable for this method of
construction, with the addition of brick chimneys and hand-made tiles
for the roofs, may be seen by reference to the drawing on page 39. When
conditions are normal, however, and the supply of local materials presents
no difficulty, it is doubtful if any economy is effected by the use of con-
53
sired. If concrete is to be employed on an extensive scale in the provision
of houses in the immediate future—either in the form of blocks of standard
sizes, or reinforced—-much is to be hoped, and much is to be feared.
One proposal, advanced from America, and embodying a scheme for the
manufacture of cottages in a wholesale fashion by pouring concrete into
moulds, augurs far from well for the advancement of architecture, and the
establishment of good building traditions. Nor does the general use of re-
inforced concrete for cottage construction suggest a much better prospect.
Moreover, this material is expensive, and expert opinion is by no means
unanimous as to its practical suitability for external walls. Concrete, in the
form of solid blocks, has already been employed in the erection of cottages,
and with a degree of success. Several interesting experiment's have been
carried out, one of the most notable being the Chepstow Housing Scheme
for which Messrs. William Dunn, F.R.I.B.A., and W. Curtis Green,
F.R.I.B.A., were the architects. The external walls were built of two
thicknesses of solid concrete blocks, separated by cavities, and secured by
iron ties. The blocks used were large in size, and the dull appearance of
the concrete was relieved by a surface texture, which was moulded on the
outer surfaces of the walls. The effect of these cottages is pleasing, and,
being situated in the West Country where local stone abounds, the con-
crete walls are not altogether out of harmony with the building character-
istics of the district. A pair of small houses, suitable for this method of
construction, with the addition of brick chimneys and hand-made tiles
for the roofs, may be seen by reference to the drawing on page 39. When
conditions are normal, however, and the supply of local materials presents
no difficulty, it is doubtful if any economy is effected by the use of con-
53