DOI article:
Adams, Maurice: Concrete homes
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41870#0061
MAURICE S. R. ADAMS, A.R.I.B.A., ARCHITECT
PROPOSED ALMHOUSES AT MORTLAKE
CONCRETE HOMES. BY MAURICE S. R.
ADAMS, A.R.I.B.A.
MANY people find it difficult to understand why there is such
a big shortage of houses at the present time, and why more
houses are not being built to make up the shortage. Before the
war practically all houses were built by speculating builders.
These people bought up large areas of land upon which they erected as
many houses as possible. Profit was made, not on the houses, as might be
supposed, but on the land, the value of which was enormously increased.
The Land Valuation Act of 1911 —12 put a stop to all private building, so
that for two years prior to the war practically no houses were built. During
the war neither time, money, labour, nor material could be spared for
house-building, so that for eight years we have not built any houses. The
shortage is further increased by the large number of houses which every
year fall into decay and become uninhabitable. The number of these has
been abnormal owing to want of repair. In spite of thousands having been
killed at the Front, more houses than ever are now required.
Enormous cost is the reason why houses are not being built to-day. In the
majority of cases pre-war rents were absurdly small. The cost of materials
has risen two to five or six hundred per cent, over 1914 prices; labour
rates have increased over one hundred per cent.; and, what is more im-
portant, the labour output has considerably decreased. A bricklayer
formerly laid 1200 bricks per day for half the wages for which he now lays
only three or four hundred. Transport is disorganized and cost of haulage
prohibitive ; ballast formerly costing 3s. or 4s. a yard now costs 18s. 6d.;
49
PROPOSED ALMHOUSES AT MORTLAKE
CONCRETE HOMES. BY MAURICE S. R.
ADAMS, A.R.I.B.A.
MANY people find it difficult to understand why there is such
a big shortage of houses at the present time, and why more
houses are not being built to make up the shortage. Before the
war practically all houses were built by speculating builders.
These people bought up large areas of land upon which they erected as
many houses as possible. Profit was made, not on the houses, as might be
supposed, but on the land, the value of which was enormously increased.
The Land Valuation Act of 1911 —12 put a stop to all private building, so
that for two years prior to the war practically no houses were built. During
the war neither time, money, labour, nor material could be spared for
house-building, so that for eight years we have not built any houses. The
shortage is further increased by the large number of houses which every
year fall into decay and become uninhabitable. The number of these has
been abnormal owing to want of repair. In spite of thousands having been
killed at the Front, more houses than ever are now required.
Enormous cost is the reason why houses are not being built to-day. In the
majority of cases pre-war rents were absurdly small. The cost of materials
has risen two to five or six hundred per cent, over 1914 prices; labour
rates have increased over one hundred per cent.; and, what is more im-
portant, the labour output has considerably decreased. A bricklayer
formerly laid 1200 bricks per day for half the wages for which he now lays
only three or four hundred. Transport is disorganized and cost of haulage
prohibitive ; ballast formerly costing 3s. or 4s. a yard now costs 18s. 6d.;
49