SEASIDE HOMES

Evening Star, Issue 23749, 3 December 1940, Page 3

SEASIDE HOMES

NSW TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION The days when architects, builders, and home buyers accepted only two types of construction —brick and all-timber—for homes is passing, and there is now less conservatism in the use of new building materials. Lower building costs, combined with good appearance and wearing qualities, are tho three factors sought in home building. Architects and builders are finding in asbestos-cement building sheets one of the solutions to this problem.

Por a long time building with asbcsloscement sheets was confined to small, cheap, and poorly designed cottages and villas. Now it is being accepted as a suitable building material for more pretentious homes. In an illustration in tho Melbourne ‘ Argus ’ is an example of a iarge seaside home which is built entirely of this material over a timber frame. It was recently completed at Mornington. The external walls, above a brick base, are covered with long sheets fixed horizontally and finished with o narrow cover mould of the same material at the joints. The roof is of corrugated asbestos-cement sheets in a shade of green. The exterior of the house, except the woodwork of doors and windows, does not require painting, and is entirely unaffected by sea air. Designed as a holiday home, the house has five bedrooms and a maid’s room. The dining room is planned as an annex to the lounge, and adjoins the kitchen. The internal walls are all lified with acoustolite, a new development of the asbestos cement sheets. This material has excellent insulating qualities against heat and sound, and has a surface which is easily painted. All the floors throughoutarc polished hardwood, aud are covered with small rugs.

In the bathroom the dado is earned high up the wall, and finished with a black

skirting of the same material. Metal cover strips used at the joints between the sheets and angles give a very attractive finish. Recessed into the walls between adjoining bedrooms are a wardrobe and a built-in dressing table, finished with wall mirror and two strip wall lights. The wardrobe has double doors, and is two feet deep. A separate shower room is provided for the rear bathrooms. The house is complete with gas, electricity, hot water, am] sewerage, and, with tho material used for walls and roof, is fireproof.