THE HOME

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 112, 14 May 1935, Page 11

THE HOME

DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE

MODERN DESIGNS

An interesting talk on "Domestic Architecture" was given by Mr. W. Gray Young, F.R.1.8.A., at the Wellington Rotary Club luncheon today. As in all phases of art, literature, music, painting, and sculpture, said Mr. Young, so also in architecture there had been a movement which eliminated ornament in all forms. The exponents of this type of architecture said that we were living in a machine age and must take full advantage of it in every respect. If that argument was taken to its logical conclusion all houses must be more or less standardised, merely varying in floor area. It must follow that design must be brought down to one level, and individuality killed in the process. The ultra modern building, particularly in its interior arrangements, would be so scientifically hygienic and so unquestionably reasonable that it would give a feeling of coldness rather than comfort. The essential part of the interior of the house was its atmosphere, created by the occupier; and the modern house did not lend itself to this, being too clean cut. We did not want a house like a factory, or the dining-room like a laboratory.. We needed variety for imagination, and contrast was essential to the- psychology of man. However, out of this movement good would come. We would have houses which would be more practical from the service side, more hygienic, cleanly, and efficient; whilst from the aesthetic point of view we would have greater simplicity and directness by the elimination of needless ornaments. Beauty was not attained by means of fussiness and complicated design, but by balance, form, material, and practicability. DOMESTIC POINT OF VIEW. Mr. Young said he did not think the modern style would become fashionable in England, because the Englishman was too conservative and placed great value on tradition. Owing te the scarcity of domestic servants in N%w Zealand, architects had to consider planning very much from the domestic point. of view, whereas in England they had not to do so to the same extent. In the last 15 years a number of competitions had been held for houses and flats, and New Zealand students in England had invariably won either a prize or a place in the competitions. There was a competition lately in London for flats, for which.276 designs were received, and three New Zealand students were mentioned for their plans. The development of the planning of houses was illustrated by the speaker by slides showing the improvements in labour-saving devices and planning. He stressed the great value of sunlight in rooms, and pointed out that no matter which way the site, faced, the bedrooms, dining-room, and kitchen! should be placed in order to get the morning sun, and the living-room and Study the afternoon sun.