THE WORKER'S HOME

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 162, 3 April 1919, Page 6

THE WORKER'S HOME

PROBLEMS OF DESIGN

SITTING ROOM AND WASH-HOUSE

'■ 'A' correspondent whose letter appeared ' in yesterday's Dominion' offored: eomo ' objections to the terms of tho hoiieeplanning competition that is to be held \ in, connection;; with , tho forthcoming ] fl'own-planning Conference and Exhibi- : tion. He agreed that there should be a ; covered open-air room in a worker's ■ home, to be used, as a lounge or playroom," bu't objected to the provision of only ono living room. He argued that : there ehoulrt 'be u sitting room in addition !■ to the living room, kitchenette, and bed- ; looms, ~ , ~ ~ ! Discussing this point yesterday, Mr. b. :■ Hurst -Scager, the honorary organiser of l-'the conference, said that Hie conditions : of the competition had been framed ! -with the object of providing plans tor I workers' homes that would be suitable j for New Zealand conditions at as low a i cost as possible. The factor of cost, ! wnich determined the rent, had to be r kept in view. The provision ot a sitting ; room certainly was not • finding Javour i. -with town-planners generally. Most ot ;■ the cottages in the garden suburbs had ■ » good living room, then a, kitchen and * three- bedrooms. The. conditions of the competition provided for a covered open- : nir room, or deep verandah, which could ■be need vory often as a lounge or mea : room This room would be of special value for children, who were not considered at all in the planning or many I houses. Many New Zealand children ■ must play either in tho streets or in the rooms where their mothers were work--1 ing. This deficiency had been emphasiseri during the epidemic. ; Mr. Hnrst Songer added that while the -conditions of the competition asked for i cottages of three sizes-one bedroom wo E&, and three bedr-i>oms, with livi ing room, lounge, kitchenette, and >tti- ! room in each case-there was nothing to ' prevent exhibitors allowing plans: that i provided more accommodation. Thei «-- l-MMtion would include plans of gaiden j cities, industrial villages, . groups of - tomes and hpusee of all kinds. Any ! person who had an idea worthy, of confederation could -submit an exhibit in I the form of plan or-model. I Washhouses were not asked for in-the competition drawings, said Mr .Hurst 6eager, since it was preferable that there ! Xuld'be a properly equipped aund y ! for each group of houses. Thjs laumhy ! would have proper appliances,- including •-f, steam drying room, and its use would Lye a great deal of tho labour of wosh- , tl. The cost of a fully equipped laundiy to serve a group of houses wrald ;. Wless than the cost of individual wash'■hows of the usual type for the same 1 number of homes. ..... •■ The plans submitted for exhibition I need not be specially drawn The honorary organiser states that designs of !' homes that have already been erected or !, for which plans have been prepared will r-be welcomed if they depart from the }.' commonplace type. ■