HOME PLANNING

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12614, 26 November 1926, Page 11

HOME PLANNING

AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

(CONDUCTED BY

“ARCHITRAVE.")

This column, which is cenduc ted by an expert, is devoted to the service of those who build, or are interested in building houses. We trust that those of our readers who find themselves confronted by the proble ms in which it seeks to assist them will make full use of it, and if they have any question tg which we can find a reasonable answer that they will address it to our contributor.

THE EXTERIOR DESIGN OF THE CHIMNEY

Last week wo gave some particulars regarding the design of chimneys from the standpoint of their efficiency in carrying off the smoke. We now propose to discuss their design from the outside, with a view of course to their satisfactory appearance. It may seem strange to some of our readers that the truly efficient practical chimney stack, with several flues grouped together for economy and located in consequence near the centre of the building and the highest point of the roof is also preferable from the point of view of satisfactory appearance; but it is not really strange; it is an established fact that in far the greater number of instances the building or portion of a building which fulfils its function properly, has the elements or the skeleton on which a design of pleasing appearance and even of beauty can be modelled. We said that this is not really strange for if we dared to trespass into the realms of natural history, we could give ample proof that it is a law of nature that specimens which fulfil their function adequately most near-

ly approach perfection in their form and appearance. Well, it is so with chimneys in any case. Let us take an example. Look at Fig. 1. Do the chimneys in such a building appeal to any of our readers? Such a design is very commonly seen around Wellington; but when one examines it in the light of practical common sense, it cannot be said for one moment that there is much to recommend such an obviously wn teful brb of planning. It is true that with the expenditure of even more money it could have been made pleasanter to look upon; but it would still have been too fussy for a small house. Let us imagine such a place redesigned—it would probably have to be completely replanned—to secure an effect as sketched in Fig. 2. It .will surely appeal even to the uninitiated that it is now a more economical scheme in that the flues are grouped and to those who have been following our last article it will appear that the principles of good practice in the placing of chimney stacks have been more closely applied. The placing of chimney stacks as near as possible to the highest portion of the roof is, of course, an ideal condition, and like many ideals it is not always possible of attainment. It is possible, however, to design the chimney which is near the eaves so that it shall be satisfactory. THE DETAILS OF THE CHIMNEY STACK There are- few features of a building which in their design are more frequently bungled than the chimney. It can be made to look most atrocious just through paying . too much attention to it. It is far better to ignore a chimney and forget its existence than to devote much thought and labour to its adornment. Simplicity is an absolutely essential quality of chimney design. We are probably tending to some improvement in this direction, but our friend the bricklayer still delights in doing just the very things which he ought not to do when he builds our chimneys. Ho speaks with evident relish of putting on a “fine boldly projecting capping” to the chimney top. He does not realise, of course,' that a bold projection is quite out of place — especially on a house chimney—and. he fails to understand that even a moderate projection, which may be tolerated when looking square on to the chimney looks excessive when viewed from an angle. The infinite variety which is possible in the design makes it quite useless to attempt much in the way of description; but in order to illustrate our point we give a few examples of good and bad treatment of chimney stacks.

SELECTING WALLPAPERS

If there is one thing more than another in house decoration which is carefully considered by people with even the least artistic perception, it is the choice of patterns and colours for the walls of the different rooms. Indeed, it is common enough for enthusiasm in house decoration to run so high when the pattern books come, and invariably discussions commence, as to exhaust itself by the time and final decision is made, and leave only the debilitated energy for the consideration of equally important things later on. It is not easy to retain the same degree of interest all through the decoration or furnishing of a house as is aroused by the entertaining pastime of choosing wall-papers. No one seems to be in want of opinions on the subject, and liveliness of discussion can easily develop into most acrimonious argument when the respective merits of sitting-room and bedrobm papers are under consideration. The reason for this may be that a good many people appear to think that the whole matter is one of personal fancy, not one upon which fundamental principles are to be observed. That is entirely wrong, notwithstanding tho many thousands of designs from which there are to choose. Designers and makers of wallpapers know quite well that people select patterns by a land of instinctive guess, and so they include scores of papers in tlieir books which are put there simply to attract attention when the samples are being turned over. It is a common thing for makers to complain that certain good designs they have included in their stock never seem to “catch on.” Tlieir experience leads them to the explanation that in looking through the pattern books these designs are instinctively passed over. They are rarely looked at twice. They fail to attract at the first glance. A highly decorated frieze always needs for a relief below it a plain paper, or one in diaper or stripes in quiet self-tones. It is unnecessary in most rooms to make any attempt to match the pattern of the paper with anything else, though general tone and colour must naturally harmonise.

GOOD VENTILATION

APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES Probably a matter which receives less consideration in connection with building than many others is the question of ventilation. It is quite customary to see buildings, particularly shops and offices, designed and built without any attention to it. This, it must be admitted, is more general in respect of shops and other buildings than houses; hut there are quite a number of houses which are ill-ventilated, and yet the fact is not realised by the inmates, who only remark on the stuffy atmosphere which is apparent when entering from outside—they are quite content to sit in the nauseous atmosphere created by close-sliut doors and windows. Of course, if the householder will not open his windows any arrangement of ventilation depending on them will be ineffective. But windows are often designed so that they fail to provide sufficient ventilation. It is not only a matter for the windows though; the general arrangement of the plan must have a definite effect on ventilation—not only the plan of each individual house, but the plan of the arrangement of houses in relation to each other. In the design of hospitals and schools it is considered to be essential to provide cross ventilation. In the case of the hospital this is accomplished by the separation of the wards into partly isolated pavilions having air spaces on both sides. We only go to hospitals to get cured, but perhaps there would he less need io do so if we attempted seriously io apply the principles found valuable for the curing of disease to its prevention. It would not mean a great revolution in the planning of our houses, but it would probably involve something like this: (a) Sun at least once during the day (when it shines) in each living room; (b) cross ventilation or more than one opening window to each room; (c) ventilation of passages and halls; (d) at least 20 feet width of air space to each room used for living in or sleeping. These are the defects usually to be traced in our present housing conditions —due to our habit of building in one story, on 40 foot wide sections, without considering thi9 important matter. JYith two-story houses the defects could be obviated, and even when one floor only is a requirement it is possible to secure these conditions. There are, of course, other ideas of ventilation. It would be a distinct advantage to build in each chimney an extra flue for ventilation and to connect it with ducts to other rooms wherever necessary. Again, a system of heating by hot air is easily possible, and all questions of heating are inseparable from ventilation. Wo can give no exact particulars regarding this, however, for the conditions vary eo greatly in individual instances.

What we do need to cure are: The window that is seldom or never opened because it is too heavy or too difficult; the passage or hall which only receives fresh air when the door is opened; the living and sleeping room window which only looks into that of the next door neighbour, a few feet away. These are the glaring defects of our modern houses from the aspect of fresh air. We shall do much if we can follow up our acknowledged success in infant welfare with a campaign to secure home welfare in this and in other directions.