Report of Housing.

Progress, Volume XVI, Issue 5, 1 January 1921, Page 110

Report of Housing.

(By the Women’s Committee of the Town Planning Assn.) In view of the fact that hundreds of houses are to be built immediately in different parts of New Zealand, and in order to check the prevailing tendency to construct them in the old uncomfortable labour-creating style which gives rise to so much ill-health amongst mothers, and distaste for home life and its duties on the part of daughters, the Women’s Housing Committee has deemed it advisable to draw up a short emergency report embodying those details which it unanimously considers to be the minimum standard essential for the health, convenience, comfort and decency of the average family , where the mother does her own housework and brings up the children. We believe that by concentrating upon wellplanned interior arrangements and simplicity of style, rather than upon exterior decorative effects, which only make a cheap house look cheaper, the initial cost of building would not be increased. It is frequently said that women are willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of outside show; but there is sufficient evidence to enable us to state emphatically that the great demand being made at the present time by women of experience all over the civilised world is for convenience, for labour saving, and for house comfort; and because the Committee feels that this demand is not being fully met by the type of houses now in course of construction in large numbers throughout the Dominion, it has drawn up this preliminary statement of essentials. The Committee realises the scarcity of labour and materials, and is of opinion that only necessary interior fittings should be supplied at the present time. The urgent need of the moment is a roof over the heads of the homeless. It may be said that the points mentioned by the Committee are those which would be included in the plans drawn by any skilled and conscientious

architect; but it must be remembered that the great majority of houses in New Zealand are planned not by architects but % by builders, and often for purely speculative purposes. The fact of its being necessary to draw attention to many ‘details shows how frequently they are neglected. The Committee is strongly of opinion that wherever public money is being spent the houses should be planned and the construction supervised by a skilled architect, and that if necesary, legislation be passed to that effect.

ESSENTIALS FOR THE HOME OF AN AVERAGE FAMILY.

I. Concrete or brick ouildings are preferable to wood. Wood must be seasoned before usmg-

2. The house should be so planned and placed that every room has the maximum amount of light, sunshine and fresh air. the floor should be raised from the ground to allow of free ventilation beneath; and the section should be so arranged that no water can accumulate under the house.

3. All rooms and conveniences should be under one roof; if any part is detached (wash-house, lavatory, etc.), it should be reached by a covered way.

4. For suburban houses no section should be less than one eighth of an acre, and no frontage less than 40 feet.

5. A good water supply, and means for obtaining hot water quickly and economically as regards both labour and fuel.

6. Good drainage, however simple-

7. To meet reasonable requirements the house should contain three (3) bedrooms, sitting room, kitchen-living room, pantry, coalhouse or bin, bathroom with hot and cold water, wash-house, lavatory or water closet, and shed. All rooms should be conveniently arranged round an entrance hall or lobby, and the aspect so considered that the kitchenliving room shall be sunny and the pantry cool. The entrance doors should be sheltered from the prevailing winds, and the front door should be placed on one side of the hall, rather than in the centre, to allow room for a hall stand or table.

8. The kitchen-living room is usually the centre of home life, and should be warm and comfortable. Doors and windows should be so placed that the fireside is not spoilt by draughts—during the day the smaller children play, and in the evening lessons and sewing are done in this room. If a range is used it should be raised on two or three layers of bricks, so that the housewife will not have to stoop so much when cooking; where small gas ranges are installed, these also should be raised on bricks. (The largest size of gas range has the top at about the right height without the bricks.) Either a good range, with rack for heating dishes and drying clothes; or gas or electric stove; sink, with draining board on either side, and hot and cold water taps (nickelled) conveniently arranged so that kettles may be filled with ease; cupboards; meat and milk safes, are all essentials. The height of the sink from the floor should be the best for the average woman. Open shelves are preferable to a cupboard beneath the sink-

The kitchen arrangements may take the form of a kitchenette, in whicn case the living room would have an open fireplace and safety screen; the latter wicn plenty of shelf room, meat and milk safe partitioned off and properly ventilated. The scullery free from draughts, well lighted and ventilated. The most convenient arrangement is to have the pantry and scullery opening from the kitchen; or the sink may be in an alcove on one side of the kitchen, but should not be actually in the kitchen. 9. There should be no steps between any of the rooms, nor between kitchen and scullery or pantry. 10. The sitting room —generally used in the evenings when quiet is needed, or for visitors, or as a bedroom in case of sickness—must not be a passage room; must have a fireplace; no built-in cupboard should be placed between the fireplace and the wall on the “ cosy ” side—an easy chair or sofa here would be free from draughts. The door should be so placed as to cause no draughts, and give tue maximum amount of wall space. Picture headings should surround every room to save destruction of papers and walls. ■,

11. A special place should be provided for fuel, under cover and large enough to contain at least half a ton of coal or its equivalent in coke and wood. A large bin filled from outside but communicating with kitchenette or scullery is advised. 12- The bathroom should have hot and cold water, and hand basin.

13. The lavatory must be separate from bathroom. An outside w.c. should be under cover, well ventilated, well lighted, and under present circumstances, where neither gas nor electricity is freely available for radiators, one bedroom should have a fireplace. No bedrooms should be less than Bft. x 10ft., wnn doors and windows so arranged that if necessary the room will contain two single beds, chest of drawers, and wardrobe.

15- Fixed cupboards in connection with the kitchen; a linen press, not in the bathroom, and preferably with hot water pipe through it; and hanging wardrobe or shelf in each bedroom are essentials. 1 6. The wash-house should have a copper, and at least two tubs, preferably-two on each side of the copper, all with hot and cold taps, so placed that in emptying the water runs freely towards the plugs, the taps being at the right hand and the plugs at the opposite end of the tubs. There should be good light and ventilation. 17. The wash-house should be large enough to contain a bicycle and pram; otherwise a shed is needed. 18. All houses should be prepared for being served with electricity as soon as power is available. This means simply leaving the necessary openings in the concrete or brick to allow of the entrance of the main wire. Chairwoman, D. E. PLATTS-MILLS, M.8.Ch.8. Secretary, MARY SEATON, MRS. A. D. CRAWFORD, MRS. P. C. CORLISS, Members of Housing Committee. Wellington, 24th September, 1920.