PLANNING A HOUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22900, 1 December 1937, Page 6

PLANNING A HOUSE

AN IDEAL CAREER THE APTITUDE OF WOMEN MELBOURNE ARCHITECT'S VIEWS Architecture is definitely ii profession for which women are particularly suited, in the opinion of Mrs. A. H. Gr'av, formerly Miss Kathleen North, the architect, who has designed and supervised the building of her modern new home at Buckingham Road, Killara, Melbourne. Mrs. Gray considers that any prejudice against women architects is disappearing, and she regards it as an ideal occupation for a woman, who has the advantage of knowing the special needs of a home. Built of modern cream bricks, with a green tiled roof, Mrs. Gray's homo gives the elfect of reposing in its setting of green birch trees: In the interior, which is the result of careful planning and thought, Mrs. Gray has incorporated many labour-saving devices and built-in cupboards, which mean so much to a woman, and yet are frequently overlooked by the ordinary architect. For instance, the corners of the hall are rounded off to tform useful cupboards and a linen chute placed in a corner of the kitchen is also accessible from the hall. Air and Sunshine "The modern trend in English and Continental architecture toward bringing a maximum of air and sunshine into the homo by having largo window areas and sun verandahs is particularly suited to our climate in Australia," said Mrs. Gray, when discussing her home. "The simplicity of modern home design is in harmony with the free and outdoor lil'o of a sport-loving people. Also the lack of unnecessary ornaments and furniture reduces the labour involved in looking after a house, and adds to the hours that a busy housewife can devote to recreation." On her modern which is built on similar lines to a ship deck, Mrs. Gray serves lunch on summer days, as- it is placed to catch the sun early in the day. Opening off the verandah is a corner sunroom with large plain windows, for windy days. First Impressions As she considers that the entrance to a house is important—first impressions are gained at the front door— Mrs. Gray has designed her hall so that when the front door is opened a view is obtained right through the hall and reception room into the garden. One of the most interesting features of the house is the number of cupboards which have been concealed ingeniously in the walls. In the kitchen, which is entirelv shut away from the remainder of the house, built-in cuphoards lino the walls. The back of the dresser forms the *wall of the dining room, and in the place of the usual servery there is a door so that china from . the dresser is accessible from both rooms. In the broom cupbdard is a linen chute to the laundry, which, with Mr. Gray's workroom, is fitted in beneath the house. "It is essential to have everything in a kitchen in close relationship, so that you do not waste steps walking from the stove to the sink or the safe to the dresser," said Mrs. Gray. In addition to her new home, Mrs. .Gray has designed a week-end cottage at Leura, and two years ago she designed the home of her parents at Killara.