Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/440

 416 COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA ARCHITECTURE. the subject of agriculture than wliat is absolutely necessary to put the Architect in possession of the requisite data and desiderata of the buildings which he will be required to design. 836. The most desirable Position of the Farm House, relativehj to the Farmery, has already more than once (see § 740 and 741) been incidentally mentioned; and it is only necessary to repeat, that it should always be such as to command as complete a view of the yards and the doors of the buildings as possible. For this purpose, wlien the living- rooms of the liouse have windows on two sides, as in fig. 749, § 740, the diagonal of the square of the house ought to be parallel to the square of the farmery ; ))ut wlicn the parlour or living-room has windows only from one side, its front may be parallel with the front of the farmery. On whichever side of the farmery the house is placed, the buildings or walls on that side should always be so low as to be overlooked by the dog- house and the windows of the parlour. 837. The Style of Architectural Design, in Farm Houses and Farmeries, may be con- sidered in two points of view : first, with reference to the nature of the buildings ; that is, their magnitude, shape, materials, and uses ; and, secondly, with reference to the other buildings of a superior character, when there are such on the estate to which they belong. Grecian architecture is best suited for low extended buildings, and for build- ings constructed of timber, and abounding in piers and posts ; and Gothic architecture is best calculated for lofty buildings of stone, without detached outside piers, posts, or pillars. The prevailing lines in Grecian arcliitecture are horizontal, and lead the eye along the eaves of the roof ; the prevailing lines in Gothic architecture are perpendicular, and lead the eye upwards, by long, narrow, upright openings, and high gables. A Gothic building of one story produces no effect, because there is no room for the ex- tension of its characteristic lines ; but a low Grecian building may have the full measure of its characteristic expression by extending its length. It is clear, therefore, that the Grecian style is better adapted for farm buildings tlian the Gothic style ; and that, if expense were not an object, the piers and posts of a farm yard might be, with propriety, finished as Grecian columns and pilasters ; and open cattle-sheds and cart-sheds might show the nol)lest colonnades, arcades, and piazzas. On the other hand, when the mansion, or chateau, or convent, or college, or school, to which the farm belongs, is in the Gothic style, there is a propriety in yielding to accidental circumstances, and conferring the same character of style on the farm buildings. As this cannot be done by general forms, since it would be useless to carry stables and cattle-sheds three or four stories high, it is to be attempted chiefly by the character of the openings, and by highly raised roofs : the barn may have something of the forms and proportions of a cathedral ; the cart and cattle sheds, of cloisters ; and the stables and cow-houses, of lodgings for monks, like those common in old monasteries. We throw out this idea respecting the Gothic style more in conformity with the taste of the times than with our own, which in every case of farm buildings is in favour of the greatest simplicity of design, and of the indication of the Grecian style rather than of any other. 838. The Materials with which Farm Buildings are constructed are commonly those which are most abundant in the given locality. As the improvements which are con- stantly taking place in agriculture necessarily occasion changes in the buildings for storing or consuming its produce, it does not seem essential that the constructions on a farm ought to be of the same degree of din-ability as those for a dwelling-house or for a public building. Indeed, as society advances, change will enter more and more into every thing, and almost the only buildings that will eventually require to be made of great durability will be those of a public nature ; such as bridges, which ought to be the most durable of all architectural constructions, piers, quays, sewers, public offices, parochial schools, &c. As the walls of the greater part of farm buildings have no weight to supjjort but the roof; as the retention of a high temperature within is seldom, if ever, an object ; and as scarcely any fires are requisite, timber seems a very suitable material of construc- tion ; and in all coimtries where wood abounds it will be found the cheapest. The objection hitherto has been the want of durability, but this evil may be in a great degree remedied by raising proper footings of masonry, as basements for the framework of the walls ; by thoroughly seasoning the timber before it is used ; and by coating it over, after it is put together, with tar, or some description of jiaint or other adhesive material, which will effectually exclude the air and the weather. Walls of mud, or of compressed earth, are still more economical than those of timber; and if they were raised on brick or stone foundations, the height of a foot or eighteen inches above the ground, or above the highest point at which dung or moist straw was ever likely to be placed against them, their durability would be equal to that of marble, if properly constructed, and kept per- fectly dry. The cob walls of Devonsliire, which are formed of clay and straw trodden together by oxen, have been known to last above a century without requiring the slightest repair ; and we think that there are many farmers, especially in America and Austrab'a,