Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/367

 Arrit 26, 1872. THE BUILDING NEWS. 545 Se SS possess. It is in the most prevalent style of the day. ‘Mr. Brandon, Mr. T. Roger Smith, and many others, have designed and carried out not a few such build- ings, and a casual obseryer would scarcely distin- guish in this any special individuality of design. We now come to the arrangements. and the result is not so satisfactory as might haye been antici- pated. The disposition of the block is not suffi- ciently square. The side elevations would have an imposing effect, but the back elevation is entirely neglected, nor is the width sufficient for the stable arrangements to be comparatively hidden from the grounds. The south-east elevation is not sufficiently broad to be imposing. Ihave in my mind’s eye a mansion of this character by a gentleman already referred to, where nothing but the narrow elevation can be properly seen until within a stone’s throw of the building. It therefore looks too insignificant. The long range of roof, moreover, necessitates a gutter about G0ft. in length. The referees called attention to the unsatisfactory method of entrance, and I ap- prehend further, that by the arrangement of cor- ridor, the house is subject to draughts in east, north, and west winds. In that case the library door is not sufficiently sheltered. The hall is made to do duty for cloak or ante-room. It would have been more satisfactory had a special room been provided. The staircase has only 6ft. Gin. headway, which is not sufficient for a building of this kind, and there is comparatively no landing on first floor, and no fire- place, each of which are almost as necessary as the hall on ground floor. The housemaid’s sink is too prominently placed, and is in no way improved by the window in landing. The w.c. also is seen from the hall and dining-room doorway, and somewhat awkward to reach except from bedrooms in imme- diate contiguity. It is a question whether the sound would find its way into the morning-room, and whether the suspended partitions would ultimately crack the ceilings. That part of the arrangements, therefore, cannot be considered successful. The turret is almost useless except for effect ; it contains 16 or 18 superficial feet, and the whole of that space would be required for stairway. There is no housekeeper’s room, nor children’s nursery, but as provision for them would necessitate a larger house, this should not be complained of. With all these defects the house is, nevertheless, very well arranged, and in many respects an im- provement upon houses of this character hitherto illustrated. But the model mansion, perfect in all respects, has yet to be designed. I am not aware that the villa of lesser importance needs further comment than the referees have already passed upon it. I shall look upon future illustra- tions of this competition with interest.—I am, &c., H. S1n,—Although bowing respectfully, as I do, to the decision of the referees in the above competition, I cannot help thinking that a mistake has been made by those gentlemen in not reporting on the whole of the designs sent in, and thereby giving the author of each an opportunity of knowing wherein he has failed. On reading the report of the referees, I was struck with astonishment at seeing what grave errors had been made in the designs mentioned as being worthy of notice, and even the two which have ob- tained the premiums appear to be a long way from being perfect. Take the one marked ‘t Domus,” for example ; no servants’ water-closet, no tradesmen’s en- trance except through scullery, no larder, no dressing- room on first floor, &c. ; then again, why designs such as those marked ‘En Avant,” ‘* Glasgowegian,” ‘‘ One in a Hundred,” and No. 24 should come in for praise, I am ata loss to understand, as the first has only one dressing-room for all the bedrooms, the second has no water-closet on the ground floor, the dining-room of the third cannot be approached from the kitchen with- out crossing the hall, and the fourth has no water- closet on the first floor ; and I am sure had the design sent in by myself failed in any one of the above-men- tioned particulars, I certainly should never have ex- pected it to have been noticed in the way those I have mentioned appear to haye been. Of course, all cannot win, but I feelin my own case that none of the objections mentioned in the designs referred to occur in mine, therefore I should like to know wherein I have failed, and as other competitors may feel the same as myself on the matter, that is the reason why I consider the whole of the designs should have been reported on. Assuming the referees have finished with the matter, I should feel it a favour if you would examine at your leisure the design sent in by myself and report thereon. I do not ask this in any hostile spirit, but when those designs reported on appear to be so full of errors, I begin to think that mine must be bad indeed,—I am, &e., RED STAR. Str,—Looking at the result of your competition from a builder’s point of view, it certainly appears that the question put in your leader of the 12th inst.— “Ts planning properly understood ?”?—is a very perti- nentene. The defects in the premiated and mentioned plans pointed out by the referees lead to the answer— as far as the above competitors are concerned— “Certainly not.” If these selected designs haye such glaring and serious defects, an examination or de- scription of the remainder would be very interest- ing. In Torquay, “The City of Villas,” such **plan- ning” would be rejected by the merest tyro of speculative builders. Out of a list of seventy competi- tions for a villa, and at a cost price, too, ample to provide all necessary comfort and conyenient arrange- ment, the prize plan, and the honourably-mentioned, have such objections pointed out as—‘ No seryants’ w.c.;” “entrance through ascullery;” ‘‘no larder ;” “no dressing room ;” ‘absence of coal cellars, coppers, and flues in sculleries;” ‘“‘w.c.’s on ground floor;” &e., &c. And then again, fancy a mansion without a w.c. on the first floor! Such defects in matters essential is really surprising, and clearly shows the great service you have done in organising the com- petitions and drawing attention to this important sub- ject.—I am, &c., WILiiAm A. Goss. Torquay, April 22. Srr,—I have been much interested in the report of the referees in the House Planning Competition, which appeared in your publication of the 12th. If one can judge from their criticisms they seem to have done their work most carefully. Strange to say, the de- tailed defects they point out in the plans they approve of are those which are very frequently found existing in many houses, and from the general statement at the end of the report one cansee how many planners of houses pass over important points in their plans, and none more so than that contained in the last paragraph but one, which, it appears, was neglected in all. I hope you willbe able from time to time give us, a3 your weekly illustrations, some of the plans in full, not confining yourselves to those to which prizes were awarded, but showing the public the errors to avoid as well.—Iam, &e. JoHn CocHRANE, J.P., Counties Donegal and Tyrone. Lifford, April 19. [It is our intention to give all the plans which were selected for honourable mention, and we should be glad to receive any legitimate criticisms which correspondents may like to offer on any or all of them. —Ep.] Srr,—I will not repeat those defects mentioned, but lay before your readers a few observations which may safely be added to the report of the referees on plan for Villa in last week's number—yiz:—1l. What man would build a house of this class without a garden entrance? 2. What is the meaning of the re- cess between front entrance door and outside of wall, which presents a useless feature? 3. Can a water- closet 2ft. Gin. wide be considered a suitable one for this description of house? 4, What utility or orna- ment is afforded by the space between principal stair- case and wall of hat-and-coat room? 5. The fireplace in dining-room is too near serving door, and the room itself is not very well proportioned, 23 x 15. 6. The scullery is no larger than than that of many a cottage. 7. The door in principal bed- room opens in too close proximity to the bed. The same may be said with respect to door in room over library,ané the door in bath-room strikes against bath, I leave to my architectural friends the liberty of judging whether my views are unfair, and I can only say that the referees are certainly not culpable for any defect which they may have overlooked, when we bear in mind the quantity of drawings to be examined, and the comparatively brief space of time devoted. I must admit that although there are several imperfec- tions which may be termed defects, with a little revi- sion the plan might be transformed into an excellent one.—I am, &e., “Domus” CRITIC. SANITARY ENGINEERING. Srr,—A great deal has lately been said about ven- tilation in connection with drains, soil-pipes, and water-closets, and in relation to this subject the fol- lowing example of how such ventilation is sometimes carried out may serve to show that the mere fact of ventilating pipes being put in is in itself of little value —indeed, it may be the source of much evil—unless these ventilating pipes are properly putin. The sketch will show to what I allude, A being 2in. ventilating- pipe carried up to outside of roof from top of soil- pipe, and B being 4in. venti- lating-pipe carried up from ! water-closets, or rather from closets in which water-closest i are situated. Now, it will be at once seen that should there ever happen to be a down- draught through B at the time any foul air is coming out from <A, said down-draught will warry the foul air from A right down into the dif- ferent houses, or flats, where the fires burning help to make it spread through the house. This style of doing things, to which my attention has just been called, is in use on a recently-erected building, and goes to show the necessity that exists for good sanitary supervision during the erection of buildings. Then is the best time—especially for the interests of the public—to see that things are properly done, It is most unfair to the public to allow the speculative builder to pass with the mere semblance or name of things, and then after the property has passed from A B him to other parties, to come down upon the latter for all sorts of alterations, &c¢.—I am, &c., April 22. PLUMBER. ARTIFICIAL STONE. Srr,—In the article on artificial stone, in your paper of the 19th, ‘ B. F.” quotes as one of its adyantages its cheapness, as exemplified in the ‘ yases and terminals’ employed in S. Thomas’ Hospital. But is not this its greatest danger 2? Would not Mr. Henry Currey otherwise have been forced to think out a new sky line ? In my humble opinion anything would have been better than the constant repetition of these same ‘ vases and terminals,’’—I am, &c., Edinburgh. L. A. W. A USEFUL INSTRUMENT. Srr,—Who amongst perspective draughtsmen has not felt himself wild, at times, with vexation at the diffi- culties involved in a large drawing by the distance of the vanishing points? A straight-edge ten or fifteen feet long is not a handy instrument, and, coupled with the difficulty of preserving intact the points of distance for days, or it may be weeks, is difficult and bothering beyond measure. Ina fit of desperation the draughts- man may try the centrolinead ; butit is only fora trial, the imperfections and insuperable difficulties attending the use of the instrument (two are usually necessary) are such as make it more plague than profit, and again the inconvenient straight-edge is probably taken into fayour. Now, however, the draughtsman may rejoice. All things are at once changed. Straight- edge and centrolinead may be flung on one side as use- less things of the past. At the recent meeting of the R.I.B.A. an instrument was exhibited which gets over all the difficulties we have hitherto had to encounter as to the vanishing points—the points now vanish altogether! The instrument is constructed on the principle of the old sliding parallel rule. Being set by pins at the lower edge of the drawing, it servesas a parallel rule horizontally, and yet works right and left for the required oblique perspective lines. It is equally applicable for points at two feet from centre of picture, or for thirty feet distance. From its retaining a hori- zontal position the addition of a set-square is all that the artist needs to construct his perspective. This in- strument, in saying time and trouble, will reduce the cost of a drawing to probably one-half. The inyentor and patentee is Mr. Russell. The maker of the instru- ment is Adie, optician, of Pall Mall. Pleased myself, in being delivered from further botheration, I think others will be equally glad to hear of such happy deliverance for themselyes.—I am, &c., Pp. E. M. Antercommunication. QUESTIONS. [2535.]—Strength of Beam.—Would you be kind in your column the follow- ing question? What is the breaking strength of a beam of the following dimensions: Beam, léin. deep, Sin. thick ; pitch pine, trussed with 1Jin. stay (as shown on sketch), the beam being bored to insert the stay ?—W. H. CRANE. (2536.]—Tar Pavement.—Can you or any of your numerous readers oblige me with an answer in “ Inter- communication ” as to how to prepare the material for tar paying, which, it strikes me, might be used with advantage for garden paths, &c., occasionally ? I should like to know the description of tar that is used, and the proportions of ingredients, and manner of mixing them.—ConsTANT SUBSCRIBER, (2537.]—Plans on Deeds.—Is is usual or profes- sional for a Surveyor who surveys property and draws a plan ona skin of parchment on which is to be en- grossed a deed of conveyance to sign his name and append his address to the plan? Is there any yalid objection to doing so?—R. L. [2538.]—Colouring Stucco.—Can any correspon- dent kindly inform me the best preparation for colour- ing the plaster stucco fronts of a mansion stone or buff colour? I want something durable, and that will prevent vegetation. ANXIOUS INQUIRER. [2539.)—Area of Sewer.—Can you or any of your readers kindly inform me, through your “ Intercom- munication” column, of an accurate formula for cal- culating the area of a sewer necessary to take the sewerage of an estate, including the rainfall, house, or other drainage ?—JUNIOR ASSISTANT. [2540.]—To Mr. Banister Fletcher.—I shall be much obliged if your writer on * Dilapidations ” (whose able and instructive papers lately appeared in your valuable journal) will be good enough to adyise me upon the following points:—1. Suppose a lease is granted of ten houses—six large, next the high road ; two in a back street behind, a smaller class of property ; and two in another street—all of these having been sub-leased since the granting of the original lease upon which I am instructed to act. Is it a legal notice for me to serve upon one of the houses as originally granted ? oris it necessary to serve a notice upon each sub-lessee ?—that is, if there are three sub- lessees, are three different notices required ? or is the enough to insert
 * Intercommunication ”