THE BIG HOUSE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 25, 31 January 1933, Page 8

THE BIG HOUSE

"DEAD AS MUTTON"

NEW TYPES OF DWELLINGS

When talking last night to the architects of Wellington, Mr. E. J. T Lutyens, the eminent English architect who is here on a visit, remarked that the day of the big pre-war house was of course, as dead as mutton. Houses of this' description, owing to domestic problems, were unoccupied in great numbers. Since the war, however a great deal of excellent work' had been done by architects in developing the design of the small house, with all its modern labour-saving devices. , "Lately," he said, "the flat-roofed concrete house, which has had such a success m Germany, has made considerable development in England. There is a good deal to be said both for'and against it. It has undoubtedly not as good a protection as a roof for changes in temperature;, it has not the same storage space for tanks, box rooms, etc.: it is not. always waterproof, and does not fit in so well With the English type of scenery,

"But when everything has been said against it, there is something very fresh in the appearance, with its modern furniture, curtains, bright cushions, and above all its ability to let in all the light, sun, and air available, which are being generally more and more recognised as indispensable to health. There is more seclusion when sun bathing on-a roof than in a garden, especially in crowded quarters, and what could be more alluring on a hot day, to have your own plunge bath on the roof, as long aa it doesn't begin to appear in patches on your drawingroom ceiling!"