HOME OF THE FUTURE

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 159, 8 July 1938, Page 12

HOME OF THE FUTURE

you visualise a home of 1937, where the occupants may be living entirely independent of —or even unconscious of—the weather outside? Present-day architecture has provided such advantages as central heating, sunray lamps, and certain forms of airconditioning, but even in buildings that are equipped with these luxuries, we are only protected from the feel of the external conditions; we can still fcee the grey skies, the teeming rain, or the fog, and hear the howl of the gale, writes R. M. Lester in Armchair Science, London. A number of architects, engineers, and scientists have now evolved a specification for (in their opinion) the perfect house that is immune from the feel, sight, and sound of unpleasant weather out of doors, and are putting it to a practical test in the erection of a large house not very far from London. But —and it is a big but—this “perfect” house is Underground. There is a considerable body of opinion in favour of the development of underground architecture, not only in view of its protective element from the air in the event of war, but also on the counts of preserving the countryside from surface building, and of benefitting the health of the community. Now, this latter argument seems questionable at first sight. How can it be healthier—or dven as healthy—to live underground instead of in the fresh air above? Medical experts, however, have come forward to state that the special air-conditioning and artificial sunlight that can be installed in underground homes of the future will make them healthier than those we live in to-day, owing to the fact that they will not be subject to aircarried infection or lack of sunlight. The interior of such an under giound home will have the appearance of a normal house, even to daylight illumination during the daytime and ordinary artificial lighting in the evening. The daylight effect will be

The “Perfect” House

obtained by cleverly concealed “daylight” lamps throughout the house, and this will be heightened by sunshine windows.

The object of these windows will be to present the illusion of real windows and real landscapes, without. A series of four panels—one for each season of the year—is controlled by a switch, the panels being cunningly painted and designed to represent the desired very realistic looking landscapes. The windows in front of the panels are glazed with ordinary plate-glass, and draped in the usual manner with side-curtains. They are illuminated by concealed electric lighting to complete the sunlight illusion. The house itself is quite invisible, as the main entrance will be entered through a tunnel from the roadway* the tradesmen’s entrance being through a second tunnel to the rear of the building. The garden actually forms the roof of the house, being immediately over it, and a statue with a fountain in the centre can disguise a periscope fitment when you wish to view the outside world from the comfort of your armchair. The artificial sunshine is, of course, an important factor in a home of this nature, and the National Physical Laboratory states that the installation of solarium lamps will provide the full effect of health-giving sunshine. These lamps comprise two mercury arc tubes and special glass filter panels, the lalter being for the purpose of cutting off the usual eye irritant rays, so that you may sit underneath the lamps foi long periods without the need of wearing any form of goggle or eye protection, such as is the case with ordinary sun-ray lamps. The health-giving ultra-violet rays of such lamps are colourless and invisible, characterising the cool aclinic rays of the Alps rather than the dazzling glare of the Sahara. If—as may happen—the predominance of the green-violet rays from the pendants make your room-colour scheme look

somewhat inspid, you can counteract this by fitting gold-sprayed reflectors, or tinting the glass shades in flame or amber colours. The night-time illumination from the ordinary filament lighting bulbs, would also counterbalance the washed-out effect.

It is generally admitted that those who live in centrally heated homes to-day are more subject to colds and chills than the supposedly less fortunate ones who are unable to afford such installations, but experts prophesy that in the underground home of the future, fitted with artificial sunshine, such ailments as the common cold will be unknown. If, during your hours of work in the world above, you are so foolish as to pick up a chill, this will be immediately cured on your return to the ultra-violet radiation of your home. Air-conditioning and ventilation will be far superior to former methods, and will make the house absolutely im mune from any germs or dust. (Ol> viously the housewife will have an easy time, with a home that is permanently clean, and never requires even a duster!) The air-conditioning and ventilating ducts will be installed together with the electric light and other cables —in a narrow paSsage-way between the outside and retaining walls, and the filtration apparatus completely removes from the atmosphere all dust particles that normally settle over the furniture and floors, and that are inhaled by the occupants of the house. The filter plates are covered al» over with a special viscous liquid to which the dust and dirt particles adhere before they have a chance to enter the rooms. This product of an all-machine age will, of course, have its framework of steel, and stainless steel-lined walls in the kitchen will provide the housewife with a shining room radiant with artificial lighting, where nothing »*an rust or become stained. Dirty crockery will be washed automatically by electricity, and stacked away by a similar method. In fact, domestic help wall be superfluous Even the labour of household shopping will be eliminated, for television installed in the kitchen will enable the housewife to see the quality of the produce she is ordering without even leaving her home.