DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 2, Issue 10, 1 April 1924, Page 20

DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE

R. K. BINNEY, A.N.Z.LA.

No. 3

The storey and a-half house is always delightful, as it seems to sit snugly on the site and is part of the landscape. One sees so many of them in England in fact, they are part of the traditions of English domestic architecture. Mr. Binney, in designing Mrs. Crammond house, has planned a large loggia, which makes this English design house very suitable for New Zealand.

HP HERE seems to be a tendency nowadays to guard only against cold and damp in our houses, and to take little precaution against heat. Hardly a summer goes by without its days of intense heat. It is then that people suffer from want of forethought, and are so put about to find a place which shall be cool in their houses. On such days as these, meals are taken in the loggia, and there is much to do with sunblinds and shutters. But be it hot or cold, the mistress of the house has her social and household duties, and the master some correspondence, or affairs which must keep him indoors. All the sitting-rooms, and even the bedrooms, are unbearably hot. It is then people realise the importance of a south sitting-room. In a small house it may not be possible to have a room for summer use only. It is not necessary, as an alcove in the principal sitting-room could be planned with a little thought so that the windows face south and southeast, which would make a cool and restful retreat on a warm day. A number of houses are approached from the south, so that the whole northern aspect may be devoted to the principal rooms, and it is usually on the south side that the kitchen wing is placed. Therefore, if the house be two storeys high, the south room had best be placed on the first floor, as well for quiet as for the advantage of seeing the prospect from its windows. If the entrance porch be a projecting one, it might well be arranged that the continuation of this projection forms a bay window of the summer room above. This is only one of many suggestions; such a room might well be placed at the south-east or south-west angle of the house, having its principal windows to the south and the less important ones towards the east or west. In this event these last should be fitted

with shutters hinged on the outside wall, which on cool days could be thrown back to admit the morning or evening sun, but closed during the hot. weather. Another good position for the summer room is a large alcove off the staircase landing, which also adds dignity and space to the staircase and makes a delightfully quiet retreat. When possible, staircase windows, if they be large, should face the south to escape the blinding light of the north or west aspects. On a summer's day we may enter the north-aspect rooms and Ave find, if the blinds are not drawn, or the shutters not closed, that the blinding light takes all sense of colour from the decorations of the room, and the air is hot and stuffy. From the windows we see the dark side of everything, as the planes of the standing objects which face us are in the shade, and often the glare is so intense that the whole view is dimmed by a quivering haze of heat and light; nor can we sit and write at a table in the window because the sun reflected into our eyes from the paper blurs them. But in our south room the decorations remain undimmed in the cool, clear light, and the view from the window of the garden beyond is cheerful, bright, and restful. In decorating the south room it must be remembered the sun cannot shine, so we must contrive so as to miss it as little as possible. Pale yellow walls with china blue curtains and coverings to the furniture, or milky green walls, and curtains with a bright floral design on a white background would make a cheerful yet restful scheme, or grey walls jade green and blue curtains would be cool and refreshing.

Most of us have very definite impressions of the rooms we have lived in or had particular occasion to observe! If we have any pleasant recollections of south rooms they have been found more by what we have seen from them rather than from what we have seen in them, and herein lies the secret of the charm of the south room. "Cast it also that you may have rooms both for summer and winter; shady for summer, and; warm for winter." Francis Bacon.

"Bankton" is a large small house, and it has been planned to give an air of space and at the same time having all the advantages of the small house. The arrangements of the kitchen and service wing have been well thought out to save labour as much as possible. On the first floor the principal bedrooms open on to the open loggia and have beautiful views of the harbour. <3"" '""" ■ ~",~^~~^,g> NAPIER Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Lowry have returned, with Miss Lowry, to Okawa Station, after a prolonged absence abroad. They were in England at the time of the recent elections, and were surprised at the comparative lack of excitement in London on election day itself but a" pall of fog had descended upon the city, blotting out the resultsboards and the listless election-night crowds, who viewed the return of the Labour Party with apparent unconcern. The Lowrys have had time in England to watch the athletic doings of their three sons, who have established a wonderful family record at Cambridge University. One T. C, now captains Cambridge at cricket, another won his rugger blue and still another, who returns to New Zealand, by the way, in" the near future, has just toured America as captain of a combined Oxford-Cam-bridge tennis team. o o o Many well-known Hawke's Bay families were represented at the provincial tennis championships at Waipawa.. Miss V. A'Deane, of "Ashcott," Takapau, was partnered in the doubles by K. J. Walker, the popular Dannevirke player, who lost his singles title to Barkman, of Wellington. Miss E. Armstrong (Akitio Station) and Miss M. Ormond (Wallingford) were two of the better known younger players, while the contingent of ardent enthusiasts from Hastings included Miss Mona McNiven and Misses IST. and D. Hassell. Waipawa had assumed a festive air for the occasion. Cabaret parties were organised every evening, and after dinner one evening an impromptu sports meeting was conducted as an "extra special" diversion, at which the three-legged race, for a bottle of whisky offered by a hilarious Maori spectator, was won by the scion of a well-known Hawke's Bay house and his blushing betrothed. At the cabaret later an amateur orchestra, led by the Martin brothers, of Martin-

borough, enlivened the night with all the melodies of jazz, while among the dancers were Miss D. Lethbridge (Mahoe), Miss D. Johnston and Miss V. A'Deane (Takapau), Miss Mifanwy Clay (Wellington), and Miss D. Speedy (Waipukurau). ■' '■ o o o A series of private recitals by Mr. Sydney Francis Hoben, well known for his operatic interpretations on the piano, is being given in Hastings under the auspices of local hostesses. The first was at "Primley/' the charming home of Miss Elsie Williams, while Mrs. R. Nairn, Mrs. W. Richmond and Mrs. T. Crosse are to conduct afternoon recitals in the course of the next week or two. . o o o Dr. and Miss Selkin, Havelock North, attended the Medical Congress at Auckland, and also Dr. and Mrs. Roberts, Napier. o o o Mr. and Mrs. E. Newbigin, of Karamu Road, Hastings, accompanied by their younger daughter, Doreen, and their son, Dudley, are leaving for England and the Continent. o o o Miss Peggy Watson, Wellington, has been staying with Miss Jean Ballantyne, Rotowhenua, Puketapu. o o o Mrs. T. B. Edwards and her two small daughters have left for their home in Sydney. . o [' o o Mr. and Mrs. A. O. Russell, of Kennedy Road, Napier, have gone to Sydney for a holiday. o o o Miss Rona Woodward, of Duke Street, Hastings, is spending a holiday at Eketahuna. o o o HASTINGS The Hastings Orchestral Society has been a great musical influence in Hastings for a good many years, and promises to extend that influence for many years to come. With the departure of Mr. Don from Hastings it seemed as if the society was to be without a conductor, but Mr. Parkin, a new arrival from the Old Country, came to Hastings at the time of Mr. Don's departure and stepped into the breach. Mr. Parkin has had a great deal of orchestral experience in the best of company in the Old Land, and should be of great use to the Hastings Society. o o o A well-attended and very jolly flannel dance was held in the Olympia Cabaret. Many of the tennis players who took part in the Hastings tournament were present. Supper and delightful music helped to make an enjoyable evening. Some of those present, were Mrs. de Cathro, Mrs. J. Landels, Miss D. Newbigen, Miss Bates (a Wellington visitor), Miss McGlashan, of Napier, Miss R. Caro, also of Napier, Miss D. Hassall, Miss Mayne, of Napier, Miss M. Glazelbrook, Miss M. McNiven, Miss O'Wood, Miss E. Beamish,. Miss N. Fannin, Miss S. Fowler, Miss R. Woodward, Miss B. Woodward; Messrs. H. Hassall, S. Averill. Hindmarsh (2), Whyte, Moss, I. Simson, Stead (2), Joll and Newbigen. O O o A number of Hastings women have combined and formed a Women's Community Club, which has for its objects the entertainment of famous people visiting Hastings, and the formation of hook, music, and dramatic circles. The following have been elected officers:President, Mrs. T. W. Lewis; vice-presidents, Mesdames G. Maddison (Mayoress), M. Wood, W. Mackenzie, Miss Elsie Williams; committee, Mesdames Hallett, W. Lunn, F. Perrin, H. Fannin, Lovell-Smith, J. Harris, Water-worth, F. Douglas, H. I. Simson, de Denne, A. Reid, and Miss Bullow; secretary, Mrs. E. D. Hope; treasurer, Miss Cora Wood. o o o GISBORNE During the visit of the Earl and Countess of Harrowby and their daughter, Lady Frances Ryder, they were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Kirk. A civic reception was accorded them at the Borough Council Chambers, and later they proceeded to Sir James and Lady Carroll's residence, where they were welcomed by members of the Maori community and entertained at lunch. In the afternoon a garden party was given in honour of the distinguished guests by Mrs. Kirk at her residence, Kaiti. They were entertained by the members of the Women's Club in the evening. They were also entertained by Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Lysnar, at Kelven Rise. o o o A very delightful juvenile dance was given by Mrs. R. Barker at her home in Russell Street, where the new ballroom with its furnishings of blue and yellow was greatly admired. Mrs. Barker received her guests in an Early Victorian gown of pale blue taffeta, while Miss P. Barker's frock was of mauve silk.