A MODERN HOUSE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1925, Page 11

A MODERN HOUSE.

SEVERAL NEW FEATURES. MANSARD STYLE ROOF. Several Interesting features combine in taking the new residence now being erected on the Carrington Road for Mr. P. C. Gariiham out of the ordinary, and In making it a home picturesque in its setting, handsome in its design and structure, and convenient in every detail. J

Taking first the setting, the section is rather a long and a somewhat narrow one oil the Carrington Road at the top of the hill, the ground falling away on one side and giving from the windows and garden an extensive view over bush, valley and sea scenery, The house has been so designed by the architect, Mr. W. N. Stephenson, that the rooms in the eastern elevation greet the morning sun which continues to shine in all the rooms throughout the day, until the last rays of evening kiss the upstairs windows good-night. Something unusual in the style of the roof will strike the observant viei■tor used to the low bungalow gable or the long, sloping lines of the-storey and a half house.. The roof of Mr. Garnham’s residence is to be in the Mansard style, the first of its kind in New Plymouth. The special merits for this style of roof are that in one way' it preserves something of the sloping lines of the storey and a half roof and yet gives all the upstairs rooms the spaciousness of the two-storey ‘ house upper rooms without giving the roof that perched up appearance of ths usual double storey roof. The Mansard roof starts somewhere about the line of the storey and a half roof, but about halfway up it bends over to the gable, the angle Of the bend being about 150 degrees. It allows the upstairs rooms to be about three feet wider than they Would be were the storey awl a half roof to be used. The house is to be of six rooms. On the ground floor the principal entrance is up a wide concrete terrace to a porch opening oh to a hall 10ft. din. by six feet. On the left the hall gives access to the sitting room, a large, airy room of 10ft. by 14ft. 6in., reaching over the full width of the house. A double view is provided by a sash of windows on one side arid a big bay window at the end. Directly opposite the bay window is an open fireplace of dressed Oamaru stone. Connected with the sitting room by folding doors and also with the hall is the dining room, measuring 13ft. by 10ft. Sin. The remainder of the ground floor is given over to the kitchen, pantry, laundry and fuel store, the whole having a back entrance porch. The kitchen has been planned with a view to minimising labour. A tile bench has a window directly over a sink which is flanked by crockery cupboards. Below the bench, a pot cupboard is on the right and on the left a set of drawers. Washing up should be an easy task with such fittings close to hand. The stairway leading to the upper floor is invisible from the hall. It leads on to a corridor serving three bedrooms, one on the front 10ft. by 14ft. and two others 12ft. by 10ft., and 14ft. by Bft. These rooms have been arranged so as to get the maximum amount of sun. A sleeping porch Bft. by 6ft., with a northerly outlook is also provided. Bathroom, lavatory and linen closet, aired from an airing cabinet below complete the floor. The house is being built with hollow red brick walls, which are to be finished in white plaster. The fittings throughout are to be of heart rimu, while electric light and hot points will be placed in all rooms. The windows are to be of the leadlight type with panes of slightly more than the usual size. The roof is to be of red tiles. NO 10, DOWNING STREET. A story appeared in a London newspaper to the effect that No. 10 Domiing Street, the official residence of the Prime Minister, and No. 11, next door, the residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, were in such a state.of decay that the Office of Works was considering whether It would be desirable to rebuild both houses instead of making further repairs. We understand that there is no foundation for the statement, says the Daily Telegraph. The outside brickwork of these historic houses was re-pointed some time ago, and certain renovations are usually carried out in the spring of the year. But their general condition does not in the least warrant such a report as that referred to, and no proposals for rebuilding have been considered. An official of the Office of. Works declared that the buildings now are in such a condition that they are “fit to stand for another hundred years,”