A WIND-SWEPT HOME.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19407, 17 February 1925, Page 4

A WIND-SWEPT HOME.

FRESH AIR AND HEALTH* SIR TRUBY KING’S RESIDENCE. (Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, February 15. Visitors to the southern part of Wellington may have noticed on the apex of one of the hills above Newton a dwelling house placed in such a position as to afford a glorious view of city and hill and sea, and at the same time catch every wind that blows. This is the home of Sir Truby King, a doctor and a health expert whose work in regard to the health of voung children is known far and wide. Sir'Trubv King in his new home certainly gets all the winds that blow, but he also gets all the sun that shines. He has, however, succeeded in designing a house such as will defy even the fiercest blasts of a nor’-wester or a southerly gale. His house is planned in such a way as to make it least subject to the inconvenience of wind, and yet to take the fullest advantage of the pure air the winds bring. The methods Sir Truby King has used to overcome the disadvantages of the prevailing north-wester were of much interest to members of the New Zealand Institute of Architects now in conference in "Wellington. They were invited to visit his residence yesterday. The house is so placed that the prevailing wind is deflected obliquely, and that the main living rooms are quite sheltered by the more exposed northern wing. In one room huge folding doors throw the interior open to the Lyall Bay view, and should the wind blow from the north-west sliding screens of herring-bone expanded metal deflect the breezes, admitting fresh air, and interfering but little with the outlook. The passages in the house are cool and splendidly ventilated, and the bedrooms are subjected to an'ever flowing stream of air through grilles set high in the hall walls.

Sir Truby King pointed out that by allowing a one-inch, margin between the eaves and the top of the windows and by studying the circulation within the room, it was possible to secure ample fresh air without any inconvenience. He stated that he always found it difficult to get people to recognise that it was not sufficient to have windows on one side of a room and to leave too other side without any means of ventilation. In warm weather such rooms became extremely close, and very little ventilation was possible.’ The constant movement of air was necessary, and this necessity would be realised in the future. The proper means of doing away with draughts was to provide ample air inlets and outlets, making provision also for shutting the wind off in one direction and opening the windows on the other side. In the same way it was possible to banish excessive air currents in the open by studying means of deflecting and by planting hedges and erecting barriers. By planting in regions that would not grow a blade of grass to-day it would soon be possible to grow in the same places the most delicate plants. These matters were of supreme importance, and should receive greater recognition. Human health depended upon the extent to which we lived under, the conditions in which we were evolved. In conclusion, Sir Truby King stressed the importance of architecture in the matter of health. Light and air which came direct with all their primitive energy were essential to the health ol mankind.