Part 3

STOCK ARTICLES.—Economy may always be exercised by using what are _worthy_ stock articles of building, and in the case of a model village, where large orders will be given, the architect should make it his business to introduce new lines—moulds, doors, grates, mantels, etc.—the quality of which is first well proved. Stock sizes of building materials should be selected, and the planning should be adapted to them to avoid waste. For instance, joists should always be of such sizes as will prevent waste in the cutting of timbers. Joists are stocked in a definite number of foot lengths. Rooms of 12 ft. 4 ins. width, with 4 ins. bearing allowed at each end, will require joists of 13 ft. lengths, in which case there is no waste; on the other hand, rooms with 12 ft. 6 ins. width, with the same bearing, will require 14 ft. joist lengths, in which case 10 ins. in timber and the labour in cutting will be wasted, which the extra 2 ins. gained does not warrant; 12 ft. 4 ins., 13 ft. 4 ins., 14 ft. 4 ins., and so on, are therefore preferable dimensions. Again, if the size of the joists be 9 ins. × 3 ins., 27 ins. cube is obtained, which is not stronger than 11 ins. × 2 ins., giving 22 ins. cube. If the latter be chosen, therefore, 5 ins. cube are saved. True, the house will be raised in height, but not sufficiently to appreciably increase the cost. This is only one instance of how selection of material may be profitably studied.

GENERAL.—In the example given the staircase runs between the houses, and gives them a good wide frontage, bringing the outer houses nearer to the extremity of the land, and enabling a more convenient division of the gardens. It will be noticed that the bath in these small cottages is the “Cabinet” patent, which is strongly recommended on account of its being easily shut up and stowed away (see page 51). The interior fittings are of the simplest and most inexpensive kind, such a thing as the ingle nook, however pleasing and comfortable, being reserved for a better class of cottage. Ample cupboard room, nevertheless, is provided, and it should be noted that such conveniences as cloak rails, cup-rails and hooks, picture rails, etc., are fixed in all the cottages dealt with. Small gas cookers or grills should be included in all cottages, whether large or small. White’s patent steam exhaust should also be fitted in all cottages.

THE LAYING OUT OF GARDENS.

The garden, a feature of such importance in the model village, or garden city, should have no less care and attention in the planning than the house itself. The accompanying plan is one frequently adopted at Bournville where the aspect is suitable. The arrangement is modified in the case of the smallest cottages by the reduction or omission of turf. The bedding, with the various trees and shrubs supplied, is indicated on the plan.

With the large garden-space allotted, the paths should be broad and, generally speaking, planned in straight lines, the width being not less than 3 ft.—even 4 ft. not being too wide. At Bournville they are made of 6 ins. of ashes and 3 ins. of gravel. Where there is turf the path should run at one extremity of the garden plot, giving the full width remaining for as spacious a lawn as possible. At the bottom of the lawn it might be turned to the left or right, as the case may be, as far as the centre, and carried down through the kitchen garden so that the fruit trees and vegetables may be easily accessible on either hand. With a south aspect, however, it is advisable to still continue the path down one side, the shadow of the adjacent hedge thus being cast not on the beds but on the path itself. It should be borne in mind that in laying out the beds all peas and beans, raspberry canes, etc., are best planted north and south in order that the whole length of the rows may get the sun. The tendency is for amateur gardeners to favour winding paths, by which space is lost, besides the arrangement being inconvenient. The curved line is rarely in harmony with the setting of the cottage, and curves, if introduced, should be gained rather in the planting of trees or flowers, curves in colour being more pleasing.

The number of trees, etc., provided in each of the Bournville gardens is:—eight apple and pear trees, assorted according to the nature of the soil, which, in addition to bearing fruit, form a desirable screen between houses which are back to back; twelve gooseberry bushes, one Victoria plum, six creepers for the house, including Gloire de Dijon and William Allen Richardson roses, wistaria, honeysuckle, clematis, ivy in a number of varieties, _Ampelopsis veitchii_, white and yellow jasmine, etc., according to the aspect, as well as one or two forest trees, so placed as to frame the building. Hedges of thorn divide the houses, and form road boundaries. The choice of trees and creepers is determined not only by the suitability of soil or aspect, but also by the general effect gained.

BLOCKS, PAIRS, AND SINGLE COTTAGES.

PLATES XIV. AND XV.

BLOCK OF FOUR COTTAGES.

In the ascending scale we now come to a block of four, containing houses of two classes. The cost of each is approximately the same, and the advantages are about equal. The outside houses have a side entrance with lobby and outer porch, thereby making the front room quite private, while in the inside ones the front door opens into the room, which has, however, the advantage of being more spacious.

USE OF THE INGLE NOOK IN SMALL COTTAGES.—The introduction of an ingle nook in this latter secures to it a greater degree of comfort, and privacy from the road is also gained by the extension of the screen. Complete privacy may be secured by attaching a rod from the screen to the outside wall and dropping a curtain. The ingle is lighted by borrowed light from the half-glass door, the light passing through the glazed wooden screen. In this case the ingle nook may be said to be the natural outcome of the plan. The staircase in these inside houses is at the side of the ingle, and affords space beneath for a cupboard, which is reached from the kitchen. The staircase in the outside houses is approached near the window of the living room, and admits of space in like manner for a larder, which is entered from the lobby.

VENTILATION.—It will be seen that the larder, in the case of the two middle houses, is arranged _within_ the house, between the coals and the living room. Larders, wherever possible, should have an outside window, but in this case ventilation is very easily obtained in the following manner:—An inlet of a 9-in. pipe enters the larder on the floor level from air bricks in the front wall, while in the coals at the back a concrete division is inserted at a height of 5 ft. 6 ins. or 5 ft. 9 ins. (the ground floor of the house from floor to ceiling being in this instance 8 ft. 6 ins.). Through a fanlight above the outside door of coals not only is light obtained, but, by means of a cord and pulley worked from the larder, through ventilation also, while there is no danger of the invasion of coal dust.

In both houses there is little space wasted. In the outside ones the living rooms are entered immediately from the lobby, and the bedrooms immediately from a small landing, while there is a useful closet over the stairs, entered from the front bedroom.

The projection in this block gives variety to the street, and is the natural outcome of the requirements of the houses. The type is self-contained, and privacy is secured to the householders by the introduction of the side entrance to the outside houses, and by the arrangement of the doorways to the middle ones at the remote ends.

MATERIALS.—Brindled bricks, hand-made tiles, and casement windows of wood are here used, and the brickwork of the kitchen is pointed for whitewashing, with a 4-ft. dado of paint. In these smaller cottages it is advisable to employ papers for interior wall decoration in preference to colour-wash, the latter being very soon soiled where there are children. Picture rails should be used in all cottages, if only to save the plaster.

ACCOMMODATION.—The accommodation of the respective houses is as follows:—

GROUND FLOOR. OUTSIDE HOUSES. INSIDE HOUSES. Living Room 12 ft. 4 ins. × 13 ft. 15 ft. × 16 ft. 4 ins. Kitchen 10 ft. 6 ins. × 11 ft. 11 ft. × 11 ft. 3 ins. Tools, W.C., and Coals.

BEDROOM FLOOR. First Bedroom 12 ft. 4 ins. × 13 ft. 13 ft. 3 ins. × 15 ft. Second Bedroom 8 ft. × 11 ft. 6 ft. 3 ins. × 14 ft. 2 ins. Third Bedroom 7 ft. 6 ins. × 7 ft. 10 ins. 7 ft. 9 ins. × 8 ft. 4 ins. Linen Closet.

Total cost, including all extras and builder’s profit, £872 per block, or £218 per cottage. Laying out of gardens, £10 per cottage.

Cubical contents, 48,295 ft. at 4⅓_d._ per foot cube, £872, or £218 per cottage.*

The elevation shown in the accompanying illustration is of a block of three cottages, the two outside ones of which are similar to those shown on the foregoing plan. This is an example of how the same plan may be repeated with varied effect, or where there is not sufficient land for four.

* _NOTE._—As most of the examples given have been built by the Bournville Village Trust, it should be noted that the figures stated include in all cases an addition to the net cost of 3¾% as builder’s profit.

Where there is any marked difference in the price per foot cube not accounted for by more complicated planning, or by the better quality of materials, this is due, not only to the fluctuation of building prices during the last few years, but also to the variation in the cost of building at different periods of the year.

The extras include fencing, garden gates, etc.

PLATES XVI. AND XVII.

PAIR OF COTTAGES.

VARIATION OF FORMER PLAN.—The plan shown in Plate XVI. and illustrated in Plate XVII., is of a pair similar to the _outside_ cottages of Plate XIV. This again shows how it is possible to play on the same plan in the building of a village, and so gain the desirable variety of elevation. The roof is hipped and covered with pantiles. A bay window is introduced in both the storeys, with rough-cast between. A rainwater cistern to store all roof water is placed over the coals, which projects from the main block. A greater privacy is obtained by this slight projection, without interfering with the light at the back. The chimneys are grouped together in the centre, there being only one stack to both the houses, which is carried to the highest point of the roof.

Total cost of cottages built to this plan, including all extras, £230 per cottage.

Laying out of gardens, £10 per cottage.

Cubical contents, 22,000 ft. at 5_d._ per foot cube, £460, or £230 per cottage.

PLATE XVIII.

PAIR OF COTTAGES.

The plan and elevation shown on this plate are of an alternative arrangement to the last. The houses have an entrance at the front and an extended larder, owing to the staircases ascending from the lobby. The fireplaces are arranged in the corners of the rooms.

PLATE XIX.

The view here given shows three pairs of cottages built to the plan shown on Plate XVI., and illustrates how a variety of elevation may be gained by adding bays, dormers, etc., and by using differing materials.

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XX.

PLATE XX.

PAIR OF COTTAGES.

VARIATION OF FORMER PLAN.—This plate shows the development and variation of the _inside_ houses of the block of four shown on Plate XIV., with a superior arrangement of larder, and with projecting coals. The long sloping roof has been hipped back to give a pleasing line, especially in perspective.

THE LONG SLOPING ROOF.—The long sloping roof, a feature frequently introduced at Bournville, has several advantages. If it were not employed, and the front walls were carried up level with the ceiling line of the bedroom, the proportions of the elevation would not be so happy, while an additional expense would be incurred by the extra brickwork. Such a height, moreover, would be wholly unnecessary. In the case of cottages with the long sloping roof the height of bedrooms to the point of intersection of roof and wall need only be 5 ft. 6 ins. Ample ventilation is obtained by the simple insertion of a 9 in. by 7 in. air-brick on the outside wall, and a Sheringham ventilator or Tobin tube within, about 5 ft. 6 ins. from the floor, the cost of the latter being about 3_s._, and of the former a little more. The long sloping roof can rarely be treated tastefully without boldly projecting the eaves. The projection gives a verandah in front of the house which affords a pleasant shelter. Wooden posts may be used as supports, and by training climbing plants up them, and allowing them to festoon, a really delightful summer bower may be formed. As the roof is broad, pantiles may be used with safety so far as good taste is concerned: bold roof, bold covering. By omitting the gutters at the dormer eaves a pleasing effect is gained, and gutters are quite unnecessary with an eaves projection. The cheeks of the dormers should be dressed with lead. The cottages in question are whitewashed, and have a tarred plinth of about 2 ft. to prevent the unsightliness of mud splashes.

THE LARGE LIVING ROOM.—In view of the gain to health of one spacious living room over the parlour plan, a number of these cottages has been built in varying design at Bournville, and no difficulty has been found in letting them. There has been, however, considerable discussion with regard to their convenience to the artisan in other districts where they have been introduced. Although cottages in the past had no third room, there having been, as here, one large comfortable room (often with the ingle nook) and a small kitchen at the back—all the accommodation really required—yet at the present time many artisans are not content without the useless parlour, which they appear to think adds dignity to the house, but which is used by them chiefly as a store-room for gim-cracks. There is, perhaps, a reasonable objection to a single large living room on the part of a particular class who let the front room to a lodger. Nevertheless, for a model village or a garden city it is strongly recommended that the plan should be adopted freely, and the preference for the useless front room in small cottages discouraged.

Total cost of the example given, including all extras, £268 per cottage.

Laying out of gardens, £10 each.

Cubical contents, 28,587 ft., at _4½d._ per foot cube, £536, or £268 per cottage.

Instances of the last two types of cottages dealt with appear in the view given on Plate IV.

PLATE XXI.

PAIR OF COTTAGES.

The smaller cottage shown here is planned on similar lines to the foregoing, but with the additional accommodation of an attic, and bay windows to the two storeys. This is an instance of how a smaller cottage may be joined to a larger one in treating a corner site, the larger one on the corner giving importance to each road.

PLATES XXII., XXIII., I. (FRONTISPIECE), XXIV., XXV., AND XXVI.

BLOCKS OF FOUR.

These plates show examples of cottages in blocks of four rather larger in size than the last type, and treated in different materials.

Plate XXVI. shows the details of the cottages on Plate XXV.

PLATE XXVII.

PAIR OF COTTAGES.

Plate XXVII. gives the plan and elevation of a pair of cottages also having similar accommodation to those with the long sloping roofs shown on Plate XX. The cost, however, is here considerably reduced by each house having a side entrance, and by the omission of the ingle nook, verandah and bay, while the living room, though smaller, is not a passage room. By approaching the stairs from the lobby, not only is more privacy secured, but the space beneath is made available in the kitchen for a “Cabinet” bath, which is so placed as to occupy it when in use instead of projecting into the kitchen. The planning is simple and square, which, with the omission of bays and the introduction of plain casements, all helps to reduce the cost.

The accommodation is:—

GROUND FLOOR.

Living Room, 12 ft. 4 ins. × 16 ft. Kitchen, 10 ft. 3 ins. × 11 ft. 6 ins. Lobby. Larder, W.C. and Coals.

BEDROOM FLOOR.

First Bedroom, 12 ft. 4 ins. × 16 ft. Second Bedroom, 7 ft. 8 ins. × 11 ft. 6 ins. Third Bedroom, 8 ft. × 8 ft. 3 ins. Linen Closet.

Total cost, including all extras, £250 per cottage.

Laying out of gardens, £10 each.

Cubical contents, 24,000 ft., at _5d._ per foot cube, £500, or £250 per cottage.

PLATE XXVIII.

PAIR OF COTTAGES.

This plate shows the plan and elevation of a pair of cottages having the parlour in addition to the living room and scullery. The living room, which should always be the larger, is here the full width of the house. The measurements are:—

GROUND FLOOR.

Living Room, 11 ft. 5 ins. × 16 ft. 6 ins. Parlour, 11 ft. 4 ins. × 13 ft. 3 ins. Scullery, Outside Larder, W.C. and Coals.

BEDROOM FLOOR.

First Bedroom, 11 ft. 4 ins. × 13 ft. 3 ins. Second Bedroom, 8 ft. 6 ins. × 11 ft. 5 ins. Third Bedroom, 7 ft. 8 ins. × 8 ft. 6 ins. Linen Closet.

Total cost, including all extras, £230 per cottage. Cubical contents, 33,918 ft. at _3¼d._ per ft. cube. £460, or £230 each. (Built in 1899.)

The stairs in this instance descend to the entrance lobby, but they may be planned the other way about in order to avoid the necessity of traversing the parlour to get to the bedrooms, and to insure children crying upstairs being heard in the living room or the scullery. This, however, would necessitate the cutting of 3 ft. off the large front bedroom, while the respective spaces for the larder and the lobby below would be reversed, the position of the former being undesirable.

Ordinary roofing tiles and common bricks have been used. The living room is boarded, and the scullery quarried.

It might be pointed out that there is but little scope for variety of plan in these smaller cottages. The variations must be obtained in the treatment of elevations. As already stated, to build cheaply the main point is to get the walls as long and straight as possible.

PLATES XXIX. AND XXX.

BLOCK OF THREE COTTAGES.

Plate XXIX. and the accompanying scale-drawing give the plan and elevation of a block of three cottages, a sketch of which appears in Plate XXX. The inner one occupies an exact third of the land, and is double fronted. By putting the inner one with its axis to the front, an equal garden-space is given to all the houses without incurring a re-division of the land.

The inner and left-hand houses have practically the same accommodation, but the right-hand has several advantages: there is a wider hall, the living room is not a passage room, while the kitchen is reached from the hall, and the wash-house is entered from the yard.

Accommodation of _left-hand_ and _inner_ houses.

GROUND FLOOR.

Parlour, 11 ft. 4 ins. × 15 ft. 3 ins. Living Room, 10 ft. × 14 ft. 6 ins. and bay. Scullery, 10 ft. × 6 ft. and recess for Bath. Coals, Tools, and W.C.

BEDROOM FLOOR.

First Bedroom, 11 ft. 4 ins. × 15 ft. 3 ins. Second Bedroom, 7 ft. 6 ins. × 14 ft. 6 ins., and bay. Third Bedroom, 7 ft. 5 ins. × 11 ft. 6 ins. Fourth Bedroom, 9 ft. 6 ins. × 6 ft. (middle house only). Linen Closet.

Cost of left-hand and inner houses, including all extras, £293 per cottage. (Built in 1904.)

The right-hand house, owing to the extra conveniences, works out at rather more.

In the middle house the recess between the range and small window makes a very convenient space for a writing table, especially if curtains are dropped from a rod to screen it off, its proximity to the range making it a warm and cosy retreat in winter. There is a bay window to the living room of the outside houses.

Two of the houses in this block are fitted with Cornes’ Patent Combined Scullery-Bath-Range and Boiler, described on page 52, and the third with the “Cabinet” bath.

The elevation, with the forecourt formed by the projection of the two outside houses, may be made very pleasing. From the perspective it will be seen that the inner house is covered with rough-cast, making an agreeable contrast with the outer ones of plain brickwork. Rough-cast, while fairly economical, is very effective, and helps to brighten the forecourt. The projection of the outer houses affords a break, the abruptness of which does not attract attention, but which gives an opportunity of stopping the rough-cast, which would otherwise have to be carried round to the back of the whole block.

It is not advisable to introduce a variety of colour upon exteriors. Colour is best disposed in masses—that is, it should be treated broadly, not distributed in isolated portions, or in sharply contrasting tints. (See page 59.)

The roof of this block is of green slates of varying sizes, diminishing towards the ridge.

Aspect in the placing of the house is here studied as well as the site. The axis runs south-west and north-east, and the front commands a pleasing perspective of one of the principal Bournville roads, and an admirable view of the Lickey Hills in the distance.

DESCRIPTIONS OF PLATES XXXI.-XXXIII.

PLATE XXXI.

PAIR OF COTTAGES (SHALLOW SITE).

The view shown in this plate illustrates the treatment of a shallow corner site, the block being a pair of semi-detached, double-fronted cottages. The plan is similar to the middle house of the foregoing block.

PLATE XXXII.

PAIR OF COTTAGES.

A pair of cottages also planned on the same lines as the middle house shown in Plate XXIX. and the foregoing shallow-site pair, but placed at right angles instead of lengthwise, and occupying a corner position.

PLATE XXXIII.

PAIR OF COTTAGES.

An example of a pair of cottages treated in the Dutch style.

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES XXXIV. AND XXXV.

PLATE XXXIV.

PAIR OF COTTAGES.

The accommodation of the pair of cottages shown in this plate is as follows:—

GROUND FLOOR.