SMALL HOUSE DESIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18320, 9 February 1923, Page 8

SMALL HOUSE DESIGN.

EVOLUTION IN DOMINION.

1 THREE '■? GENERATIONS.

THE SECOND BUILT BADLY.

ICH. Thursday.

An interesting paper upon "The Design for the Small House" was read to-night by Mr. W. Gray Young, of Wellington, to members of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. In the course of his paper, Mr. Young said that a great improvement had taken place in the design of the small house in New Zealand during tho past 10 years, but there was still much room left for, improvement. The improvement had begun quite early, following upon the work of Mr. Hurst Seager. Tho American bungalow style had crept in, however, and hud to a certain extent eliminated the British characteristics of New Zealand building. The Dominion should not forget that it was a British country, he continued, and should aim to develop its house architecture along national and traditional lines. He did not mean that Now Zealand should not select the good points of other styles of architecture. This was a prerogative of the architects of all time, and that touch could be given to a French or Italian design which would make it essentially British. Tho development of house architecture in New Zealand was very interesting. In the early stages of the Dominion's history the eariy settlers had been used to the splendid architecture of England and Scotland, and had built their houses accordingly in th© land of their adoption. In these houses the windows and roofs looked "just right," and there was a complete lack of needless ornamentation. The workmanship was good, and the design simple. The houses of the succeeding generation were not an improvement on the original designs. Thoso of the third generation, however, were an improvement on those of their fathers. They had returned to directness and simplicity. Mr. Young said ho hoped that in the development of house-planning the work of the housewife would be gradually diminished, but he -also hoped that the living room fireplace would never be done away with, as all the -romance of childhood would disappear with it. "There is nothing so enchanting," ho concluded, "as the dreams about building a houso, and, if we have for the cornerstones of our home simplicity, harmony, fitness, and sincerity, we shall have a house which wo will be proud of and which will have an educational value on the community."