Modern Block House.

Progress, Volume XVI, Issue 5, 1 January 1921, Page 117

Modern Block House.

GREAT BRITAIN’S EXPERIENCE. “ Sufficient time has now elapsed since the inauguration of the national housing schemes to consider the most economical and rapid system of house construction available/’ says latest bulletin of the Department of Overseas 1 rade, ‘‘and in view of the similar housing difficulties in overseas countries the following will be of interest: House construction on the concrete block system has made immense strides since the Ministry of Health altered the building bylaws in order to give freer scope to concrete construction in England, where the old bias in favour of ‘ brick and mortar had prevented the full recognition of the greater strength of the new form of construction. Ihe block system is totally different from that of the A ? e u type of cast ,or poured en bloc construction, which is largely responsible for the erroneous impressions which prevails as to the suitability of this form of building. Poured ’ units are cold in winter, hot in summer, and are liable to sweat on the inside. “ The continuous cavity block system, however, negatives all these disadvantages through the possibility of the free passage of air in the walls; and such is its success that experts have now come to the conclusion that the concrete block system is the most satisfactory and economical solution of the housing question. ‘‘ Other factors are:— “ (i) In view of the fact that raw material, slag, breeze, etc., abounds in most localities, the blocks can be made on the site of the erection, thus obviating all transport. (2) First-class durability and rapidity of construction. “(3) Improved hygienic conditions over other forms of construction. There are now several makes of concrete block-making machines on the market.”

Budding permits for Wanganui for the year ending 24th December, 1920, in the borough represented buildings valued at ,£231,453, about 50 per cent, above the previous year.