IDEAL HOMES.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1920, Page 6

IDEAL HOMES.

AND WOMEN ARCHITECTS, , j A DIFFICULT PROBLEM. Writes a correspondent:—An interesting article recently appeared in your columns on the above, and liow to achieve these is a problem of very great interest and importance, and one which many are endeavoring to solve. What makes it a difficult one is, that were a consensus of opinion taken from a number of people as to what constituted an ideal home, no two would agree, and yet all might be fairly correct in their definitions, because 111 a sense an ideal home is one which best meets the tastes and requirements of those who would live in it, and because these tastes and requirements vary even more than the features of individual persons, a correct definition of an ideal home is hard to give. General principles may be stated, such as that ft be well built of sound suitable and durable materials with pleasing exterior and interior appearances, planned so as to afford proper living accommodation for the particular family that will occupy it. The rooms and offices must be grouped for convenience, and their size and shapes made suitable for their various purposes, and all these will vary greatly to meet the requirements of different families and bujtding sites. What would be an ideal home for a small family on one site would be a poor one for a slightly larger one 011 another, and no home at all, on any site, for a large family. Even for families of the same size in the variation of ages and sexes call for considerable difference in arrangement for lheir proper housing. The ' -oping accommodation provided for, say, two boys and three girls would not be suitable for four girls and one boy, and so on as the numbers, sev, and age vary. It will therefore be seen that each home is a separate problem which can only really be successfully solved by a skilled architect,,, who is a master of the science of planning, and so is able to scheme the disposition and adjust the sizes, shapes, and positions ot the various rooms to meet the requirements. One lady interviewed by your reporter, remarking oh the general ignorance of mankind of the domestic conveniences required in a home, concludes: ■'though an architect will know from practice." He does, and being usually a family man blessed with female relatives, is Ijept well posted in kitchen and other household requirements, so that the prese/icc of a woman collaborator and draughtswoman in his office would be of doubtful value, though perhaps not so in the case of a young single architect starting in practice. Nobody will disagree (except perhaps (me, and he has little right to) with the lady who says the architect should receive most of his instructions from the future mistress of the house, and an architect will tell you most of his instruction usually comes from that quarter, unless perchance there happens 1 to be daughters, when he will sometimes get dual instruction that will give him all he wants to carry out to the satisfaction of general headquarters. With regard to fittings and conveninoes We again have a variety of opinions. What are considered by some as 1 necessary conveniences are regarded by others as unnecessary luxuries. In speaking of a new house in which cupboards were a striking feature, one lady's comment was: "Perfect, just sweet, lovely cupboards everywhere." Another's ,was: "Horrid dark cupboards stuck all 'over the place." Quite all right for people who have lots of rubbish they are too mean to burn, to stow away in', but 1 would prefer a nice little bedroom. Proper storage room for fodd, crockery and clothes are necessary, but many people seem ignorant of the fact that fittings such as built-in wardrobes, flights of cupboards, buffets, etc, are the most expensive part of a house, and if elaborated, as there is a tendency to, mount up to a considerable sum. Unless cost is of no importance, which is seldom, these can only be obtained _bv reducing the floor space of the living rooms, which do not usually err on the big side. Architects are often blamed not by the clients for whom they build, but by captious critics who view the house after it is built, and go away saying lie ought to have put in certain things that they consider necessary, but which the owner either did not want or was not prepared to go to the expense of. Regarding women architects, there is no reason why they should not excel in this as in other professions such as law, medicine, dentistry and journalism. Though no woman has yet achieved eminence as an architect there is one important part of home making where they are admitted to excel, and that is in the designing of internal decoration. There are a number of well • trained clever' lady experts in England whose work is admirable in every respect, and there is doubtless a wide field in this country for such. Many dull ugly homes "could be made beautiful by their aid and advice. Far too oftca new homes are marred by the final finishing in the way of papering and internal decoration.' There are a number of who have made special study of these matters, but the general tendency is for them to leave these for their clients to decide, who often, thousrh not lacking in good taste, make mistakes from not having had experience in final effect of different papers or tints when in position. The women I have referred to, not only chose paper, draperies, etc., but give the best advice concerning the proper arrangement of furniture, pictures, and ornaments, and in these things their judgment and taste are more delicate and refined than a man's. Many women without any training are adepts at floral decoration, and would, if properly taught, become expert in this important part of providing ideal homes. They could without, actually being in the architect's office have the plans, and as the building was nearing completion render valuable 1 assistance in furnishing designs, and living advice for the final finishing. ° There are many more points' relating to the ideal homes not touched but which are of importance, and may be dealt with in a future article.