BACK TO FRONT

Grey River Argus, 17 January 1941, Page 10

BACK TO FRONT

THOUSANDS OF HOUSES IN NEW ZEALAND. Every town in New Zealand has many houses which are back to front, in the sense that the principal living rooms have a drab or cheerless outlook, and the kitchens command noble views and may also face the sun. Perhaps the most numerous cases of that kind are in the inner area of Christchurch —the city proper —where the streets run north to south and east to west. In a northsouth street the houses on the north side have their front rooms turned away from the sun, which gives its full strength to the kitchen, where it is least needed. In the winter the front rooms are indeed gloomy and their view is limited ot the houses on the other side of the road. Of course that kind of building is in strict accordance with the old convention that the main rooms of a house must face the street. People lacked the courage to break a very wooden rule.

In parts of Wellington one may see houses which have their kitchens facing the harbour or other beautiful scenery and have their living rooms turned towards an uninspiring street. Some of the new homes in the suburbs of the main centres show that the planners have taken intelligent advantage of the sites. These houses are built in proper relation to the sun and environment, but many others follow the old practice which orders the living rooms to gaze at the street. Although the majority of architects in the past did not strive notably against the conventional notion of street-facing, they are alert to-day to advise clients to have their homes planned in a manner to ensure the best possible use of the sites. The purpose is to have a real home, which gives joy of Iviing, instead of a mere habitation.