THE DESIGN OF THE ROOFS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 12660, 21 January 1927, Page 11

THE DESIGN OF THE ROOFS

A FACTOR IN THE HARMONIOUS DESIGN OF STREET FRONTAGES

Last week we concluded our brief inquiry into the various forms of roofs in general use, and their combination. From time to time in the course of this series we have given some hints that certain forms of roofs were more adaptable to the production of harmonious and gracious appearance on the street fronts than others. Our readers may at first have felt inclined to say, “But why concern oneself with the affairs of our neighbours; they own their property, and will do what they wish •with it —wo shall do tho same.” We dislike to preach just as much as we dislike interfering with our neighbours’ own concerns; but we do suggest that the time is coming when our acts as individuals will receive much closer scrutiny from the point of view of whether they are detrimental or favourable to the interests of our neighbours. Much of our legislation—our by-laws—is framed with such an object in view. The principle behind town-planning is that the general corporate welfare is supreme ovct the particular requirements of the individual. Noxious, unpleasant, and ugly things, which may be to the advantage of the individual, must be excluded for the benefit of the mass. The ethics underlying such a principle are indisputable. The extension of the principle to the very appearance of the houses may seem to many to be too great an interference with individual rights; but it must be remembered that the house is only the property of the individual during his generation. Succeeding generations have to be protected—and are, to a limited extent, by the introduction of by-laws which lessen the chance of a collection of houses becoming a slummy area. In the older countries the dire results of individual rights and privileges in regard to land and buildings, which have so often produced slums, are a by-word. To a lesser extent the same results are evident even in our young Dominion. Now, it is not only in regard to what we might call lack of sanitary requirements that slums have been found wanting; the appearance of the houses has a very great influence on their future history. One of the factors having the utmost value in producing a beautiful appearance is the general harmony of design of the houses in a street. As one of the finest examples of this are some groups of houses surrounding a green in the Hampstead Garden Suburb near London. . These are certainly houses connected fti groups, but there are numbers of detached houses also, which have similar characteristics, in the same suburb. One of the principal factors making for this harmony is the similar character of the roofs. The walls and window openings may have similar or differing character, and yet may harmonise quite satisfactorily in themselves; but unless the height of the eaves, the pitch of the roofs, and their general form have some elements of harmony, some unity of design, the result cannot be \other than chaotic. We give an example of a New Zealand street showing these defects. We may be able to say, “There is a well-designed—a beautiful house, perhaps; and here are two houses which seem to fit into their position.” But if we are to be really proud of our city or suburb, we should be able to say, not merely, “here is a street with some beautiful houses,” but “here is a beautiful street, and its houses are well planned and designed, are comfortable, convenient, and fit their sites.” It is a matter of thought, knowledge, and design, stimulated by. a desire for good work—it is riot a question of cost, for every year large sums are wasted in superfluous, unnecessary things and in merely muddling through, as Mr Muggins did.. Let us end our articles on this question by a quotation from a modern writer on architecture. Professor W. R. Lethaby. “When a better modern architecture is to emerge, we shall necessarily find a greater interest in it and a sounder basis of criticism. In the days when the cathedrals . were built, people, were as concerned about them as we are about cricket. . If. ever we are to. have a time of architecture again, it must be foundedron a love for the city, a worship of home and nation. No planting down of a few costly buildings, ruling some straight streets, provision of fountains, or setting up a number of stone and bronze dolls, is enough without the enthusiasm for corporate life - and common ceremonial. Every noble city has been the crystallisation of the contentment, pride, and order of the community.”