Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/1130

 IIOG COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA AllCHITECTURE. Chap. I. Of the Principle of Fitness, as applied to Architecture. 2179. The Subject of Fitness, in Architecture, naturally embraces the fitness of the plan, or arrangement, of the building for its uses ; the fitness of its construction for strength and durability, and the adjustment of the whole design to the pecuniary means employed. 2180. The Fitness of the Arrangement of a Design for the uses for which it is intended must necessarily depend on the knowledge which the Architect possesses of those uses. The purposes for which buildings are erected are so various, that it is not to be expected they can be all equally known to any one individual : nevertheless, the Architect must be supposed to understand the uses of whatever building he undertakes to design ; for, otherwise, we cannot with justice examine his works by fitness for the end in view, as a principle. All buildings may be arranged under certain classes ; such as, human dwellings, lodging-places for animals, and buildings for carrying on trades or manufac- tures, for public assemblies, for public instruction, for the purposes of the administration of the laws, &c. The first class mentioned (that of human dwellings) may be sub- divided into orders; such as, villas, farm-houses, cottages, &c., according to the different habits or modes of living of the persons by whom they are to be occupied. The second class of buildings (lodging-places for animals) may be divided in a similar manner, according to the kind of animals that are to be lodged in them. The same may be said of the class of buildings for carrying on trades and manufactures, which may be divided into an almost endless number of orders, according to the respective arts or manufactures to which they are adapted. Public buildings will admit of a still greater number of divisions ; but, without attempting to enumerate them, the classification already mentioned will sufficiently show the great extent embraced by the subject of architectural design ; and how vmlikely it is that any one Architect can be equally conversant with the principle of fitness, as far as regards design or intention, in every order of buildings. If we even take human dwellings, we shall probably find that the Architect is only master of the subject of fitness for that description of dwelling in which he has been used to live, or which he has been accustomed to construct. In proof of this, we may refer to most of the books of designs by Architects for cottage dwellings and farm buildings which have hitherto appeared ; and to the remark made by one of our correspondents, on this subject, at the conclusion of § 1368. In like manner, the Architect's powers of design, in contriving houses for lodging animals, will depend on the knowledge that he has of those animals, and of their uses to man ; and thus, though most Architects may design a stable, with which every one is familiar, yet those whose practice has been chiefly confined to towns, and who may excel in designing street buildings for either men or animals, may yet know very little of the requisites for a dairy, a poultry-house, or even a pigsty. Hence it may be aflSrmed that, as far as respects design or intention with reference to use, no persons can be so competent to point out the arrangement of a building, as those who use, or whose business it is to direct the use of, such buildings ; provided such persons are sufficiently enlightened on the subject to be able to conceive improvements, and have the power of conveying their ideas to others. It does not follow from this, however, that no Architect should undertake to design a building with the uses of which he is not previously familiar ; but it does follow, that, when employed in such a case, he should endeavour by every means in his power to make himself master of those uses. Among the principal of these means, after referring to books, will be found consultation with the user, or party for whom the building is to be erected. From these observations three conclusions may be drawn : first, that all those buildings which are not of frequent and general construction by Architects are more likely to be imperfect in arrangement than those which are continually being erected by them ; secondly, that a division of labour among Architects, by which each would devote himself solely to some particular branch of his profession, is a very natural, and would be a very desirable, arrangement ; and, thirdly, that very few architectural critics can be supposed to be com- petent to judge of a building with reference to the most important point connected with it ; viz., its fitness for the use in view. . - 2181. The Fitness of the Construction for Strength, Durability, and the pecuniary Means at the Command of the Architect, involves in it a variety of considerations; but the quali- fications for this department may be all acquired by any individual who devotes himself to Architecture as a profession. The strength of a building depends chiefly on the dis- position of the materials ; and its durability on their nature, or chemical composition. The fundamental principle on which all construction, which has for its object strength, is founded, is the law of the gravitation of materials ; or, in mathematical language, the law of motion. From this law has been deduced the problem of the composition and