Demonstration House
Inside Information
Inside Information
Man, it is said, shapes his environment, and then it shapes him. This is particularly true with regard to his dwelling for it is in its design and arrangement that the average man finds his greatest opportunity for exercising a personal influence over his surroundings and, in turn, the environment thus created has by reason of its intimate association with his every action during the time he spends within it, a considerable effect on his outlook towards life. Thus the responsibility of the architect or designer, whose job it is to translate this attitude to life into terms of walls and roofs, and the spaces they enclose, is very great indeed.
But conversely, through his design, the architect may have the opportunity to suggest a particular mode of living. If he is able to form a broad and spacious conception of the good life and represent this successfully in concrete form, he can open up to his client new and exciting avenues for living. To attempt this for the consideration of the general public was one of the principal aims of the Architectural Centre in building this house.
Its designers share a firm belief in the influence of the physical environment on the mental and spiritual well-being of the individual, and they have endeavoured to create an environment which will be more conducive to enlightened living than can be found in the conventional bungalows we see about us.
In every well-designed house there is a complete unity between the inside and the outside. The design of the interior cannot be disassociated from the overall conception of the dwelling—it is simply a more intimate expression of the particular approach to living envisaged. Historically this has always been so, but varying emphasis has been placed on the exterior and interior from time to time. Today the emphasis is placed on meeting the needs (both practical and aesthetic) of the occupants rather than making these needs subservient to the demands of a preconceived exterior. Fewer people nowadays seem to feel the need to impress their neighbours with an over-burdened facade, and the contemporary architect plans from the inside to the outside. This, of course, makes it all the more important that he should investigate fully the basic living requirements of the occupants.
While the designers in this case were able to form a reasonably clear picture of the way of life for which they were planning, it was difficult to decide questions of interior detail as the taste and temperament of the future occupants (which could only be assumed) had also to be considered. Therefore the interiors had to be somewhat noncommittal and yet avoid the impersonal atmosphere of the hotel suite; they had to provide an unobtrusive background which would allow full scope for individual expressions of taste when the family took up residence.
And so the aim generally throughout the house has been to use plain materials and fabrics with simple wall treatments, and to rely for interest on the natural grain of woodwork and contrast in form and texture of materials rather than in applied decoration and floral patterns.
Making the best use of limited floor space available is a pressing problem today, and in this house built-in furniture has been used as much as possible. This frees the space within the rooms, but a great deal of attention must be paid to its convenient arrangement at the outset as the flexibility obtainable with movable units is lost. It is not possible to change one’s mind and rearrange the furniture if it is built-in, but space-saving considerations will generally outweigh this disadvantage. What movable furniture there is in the house has been designed to be as light as possible to heighten the effect of space in the rooms. This also has practical advantages—think of the daily effort involved in moving the usual heavy chesterfield suite in order to sweep underneath.
Several family activities will take place in the living-room—dining, reading, writing, listening to the radio, talking and entertaining friends. The furniture has had to be planned and disposed to meet all these requirements without making the room appear overcrowded. The low fitting along one wall houses the writing desk, fireplace and fuel bins, radiogram and record storage, and magazine cupboard, while a divan to seat three is built in at one end. The fireplace is covered by a flush-fitting firescreen during the summer months to fill that dreary gaping hole which usually becomes a receptacle for waste paper and cigarette ends.
The dining table is placed at the other end of the living-room and can be moved under the hatch from the kitchen so that places can be laid and dishes removed without leaving the kitchen.
Lightness has been achieved without sacrifice of comfort in the easy chairs by the use of strong but light plywood and foam rubber upholstery.
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living room
The design is straightforward for ease in construction and there is no heavy stain to obscure the natural beauties of the wood.
General illumination is provided in this room by two recessed fittings in the ceiling, and there are additional light fittings for special uses, e.g., over the desk for writing, and a movable standard lamp for reading or sewing.
The floor treatment in the living-room is simple, and richness is obtained by contrast in texture between a plain wall-to-wall covering and loose rugs. Similarly the woven fabric of curtains contrasts pleasantly with the smooth wall and ceiling surfaces.
An interesting feature in the kitchen is a built-in breakfast table where the family can have light meals. Asphalt tiles have been used on the floor of this room and of the bathroom, hall, and play-room-utility-room, to provide a smooth, durable and attractive-looking finish. They also have the advantage of not being cold to the touch—a quality usually associated with a tiled floor.
The decorative possibilities of pine timber with its delicate grain and dark knots have long been appreciated in Scandinavia and America, but in this country it has not yet been extensively used as an internal wall lining. It is appropriate, therefore, that it should have been used throughout the hall and play-room and utility-room of the Demonstration House.
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the children's bedroom
A saving of space is effected in the children s bedroom by the use of built-in bunks. These are arranged one above the other in a recess, giving a shipboard feeling which should appeal to the young mind. Allowance has been made for the mattress to slide outwards while the bed is being made, so that the tucking-in difficulties which usually occur with bunks are avoided.
A light fitting is placed above each bunk and recessed in the wall to avoid accidents. This room will have to serve as a study for the children as well, and the built-in dressing-table can be used as a desk. Book shelves and a separate wardrobe for each child are also built-in. A heavy curtain instead of a door separates this room from the passage so that the space can be opened wide to the court on sunny days.
The smaller single bedroom has been planned with built-in bed, book-shelves, and dressing-table for an older child. Space is at a premium here, but the compact layout of the furniture allows full advantage to be taken of the area that is available.
The main bedroom, which must also serve as a dressing-room, has ample wardrobe space for hanging clothes. Sliding trays in the wardrobes provide storage for the smaller items of clothing. The top of the dressing-table is hinged over a tray, designed to contain scent bottles, cosmetic jars, and the usual oddments.
The double bed is built low on simple lines. Here again interest is provided by the natural grain of the wood. The room is lit by wall bracket lamps on flexible couplings.
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the main bedroom