Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/291

 1868.] Descriptions. 241 TWO ADJOINING CITY RESIDENCES. ON this plate we exhibit a design for two dwellings, such as are gen- erally built in blocks, for the entire length and breadth of a square ; but so arranged that the doors are formed in pairs, in order to obtain uniformity of finish in these special traits of the ex- terior of buildings, the door being the most prominent feature of the house. In cases where the messuages are built single, with the entrance on one side, there is very rarely sufficient width in the hall to admit an exterior dressing around the entrance door, which, in such case — treated separately, and often with- out any reference to the adjoining doors — produces a want of conformity and uniformity. Where they are formed in pairs, we have the advantage of so much additional space, thereby gained, which enables us to originate a design com- bining fitness and due proportions. In the instance now before us, we have just such a case. The doors are in juxtaposition ; and the dividing line between the two properties is the centre of the middle feature. Thus, though there are two distinct portals to two separate residences, the general outward effect of the finish is such in its combi- nation that the attention is attracted from that fact ; and they appear to be but a single entrance. Another charac- teristic of this design, and one which assists considerably in producing this effect, viz., the appearance of there being but one door, is the arrangement of the front steps, presenting, as it were, but one flight, with a massive curved stone hand-railing and newel-post on either side, and only a narrow and scarcely perceptible stone course — usually termed a division-stone — down the centre, forming the line of demarca- tion between the two houses. • The style of our design may, with some degree of propriety, be termed Italian, partaking, as it does, in its general leading features, the character- istics of that favorite, always noble and welcome. It is intended to be con- structed of stone, although brick could be substituted, but not without detract- ing considerably from the effect. From a glance at the plans of the first and second stories, which we have like- wise here presented, the design will at once be recognized as that of what is widely known as, par excellence, a " Phil- adelphia house," to which divers face- tious individuals, as well of our city as of other places, sometimes accord the soubriquets of the " Pan-handle," and " Frying-pan" domicile. The peculiari- ties in the construction and internal arrangement of this particular class of dwellings, which, we might almost saj', has become of universal use in our city squares, depend upon the circumstance of the extreme narrowness of the front of the lot, usually apportioned for the purpose in a closely built city, only ad- mitting on the plan a single room in width, exclusive of the hall. This ne- cessitates the extension of the building towards the back of the lot for the other apartments. The back building is, in almost every instance, only two-thirds the width of the front portion. Thus, when the latter is 25 feet in width, the former will be about 16 or 17 feet only, leaving what is popularly called a " side yard" of eight or nine feet in width ; but which can only be considered as an open alley, which extends back a depth of from 30 to 40 feet. To these alleys the sun-light seldom if ever reaches ; and there being no circulation of air through them, in the generality of cases they are damp and covered with green mould. It also allows a space of only sixteen feet at the most for light and air, to the two houses, certainly not sufficient to diffuse the full light of day,