AMERICAN HOMES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20509, 29 August 1936, Page 10

AMERICAN HOMES

COMFORT AND EFFICIENCY WOMAN ARCHITECT’S VIEWS Unusual even in a day of unusual women's occupations is the position held by Miss Hannah Muller as a qualified woman architect in Los Angeles. Miss Muller is at present on a tour of New Zealand. Admitting that she had at first to overcome that prejudice which is often directed against a woman who is following what had formerly been recognised as purely a man’s profession. Miss Muller said that as homes were primarily for women it was really quite natural for a woman to design them. She understood intimately another woman’s ideas and requirements. In the modern homes local lighting was becoming increasingly popular, said Miss Muller. Instead of one very powerful central light, one or more lower-powered lights were used as required and placed where they would be most necessary. The lights were all non-glaring and mostly concealed, the radiance being diffused rather than brilliant in one place and shadowy in another.

Miss Muller said that so great was the public interest displayed in homes and furnished that many of the leading periodicals conducted competitions and devoted special pages tc this subject. Last year she attended the Industrial Arts Exposition held at the Rockfeller Centre, New York. Many of the exhibits were of model rooms designed by. different firms and magazines and particularly suitable for apartments and studios. In all the large American cities a great proportion of the people lived in studios or flats, in what were known as penthouses, or large blocks of apartments. The people of New York were especially accustomed to small quarters, and what was known as the “three-in-one” apartment was most popular for a person living alone. These apartments, attractively designed, contained a living, dining and bedroom in one. With adaptable, modern furniture, they achieved both comfort and efficiency with an artistic setting. Both the exterior and the interior of the modern American home reflected strongly Mexican and Guatemalan in- i fluences in building and decoration. On the whole the houses were compact and comparatively small, without much waste room. Most people seemed to prefer a rough-cast or stucco exterior In a deep cream, with decorative terraces, patios, unusually shaped rooms and brightly-coloured facings. Inside, pale coloured walls and ceilings, unshaded windows with heavy curtains drawn well to the side, and coloured furniture were the chief characteristics. Wallpapers of the flowered and figured types were no longer used, said Miss Muller. Plain walls and ceilings gave the effect of spaciousness and simplicity in keeping with the modern home. She had, however, seen some artistic wall-papers designed for special‘types of roms, such as one in pale yel|ow featuring a “Venetian blind” pattern which gave the effect of lightness and sunshine to a glassedin lounge room. Basement rooms received a great deal of attention in the United States, and were furnished with an austere simplicity. In the laundry and kitchen, however, the American love of efficiency was most obvious.