Manual on the preparation of state-aided housing schemes.

Date:
1919
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Manual on the preparation of state-aided housing schemes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    389. Lhe living-room should be arranged with as few doors as practicable, which should be placed so that they will not interfere with the comfort and con- venience of those occupying the space about window and fire. The cooking range, whether in this room or the scullery, should be placed on a wall at right angles to a window wall. The best aspect for the living-room is south-east, and it must never have a northerly aspect except when sunlight can be admitted at the other end of the room. 40. The parlour should be planned to leave comfortable space round fire and window. The best aspect is a westerly one. Preference should, however, be given to the living-room in this matter of aspect. 41. The scullery, especially, depends for convenience on arrangement as well as size, and, when it is to be used as a place for cooking, should be provided with the necessary space for small table and cupboard. While sufficient space should be given for convenience, it is not desirable to encourage the use of the scullery as a living room. The sink should be placed under or near the window, which should preferably overlook the garden. The copper should be fitted with a steam outlet. A suitable area outside the back door of the house should generally be paved with cement or other impervious material. 42. The bath should, where practicable, be in a separate compartment. 43. Hot water should generally be provided to the sink and to the bath. 44. The larder should be on the northerly side of the house. Where this is impracticable, the window should be screened from the sun. 45. he coal store should generally be so placed that coal may be delivered from outside, and fetched for use under cover. . 46. The w.c. should be accessible under cover. In larger houses it may be on the first floor. Where there is an earth-closet, it must be constructed outside the house. 47. The stairs should usually start from the entrance lobby, and a window to open should be provided to light and ventilate the landing. 48. The bedrooms should be placed as far as possible on the more sunny side of the house; two at least should have fireplaces, and adequate ventilation should be provided for any not having fireplaces. In every bedroom there should be one window of which the top is at least 6 ft. 6in. from the floor. If sloping ceilings are adopted, proper headroom must be provided for furniture. 49, Projections or detached outbuildings for coals and w.c. should generaliy be avoided in urban or suburban areas. 50. Economy must be secured in every possible way. Among other means it may be obtained by adopting simple planning and design; by placing those parts of the house requiring plumbing and drainage services as near as possible together , by grouping the flues into as few chimney stacks as possible ; by adopting a reasonable height for the rooms, say 8 ft.; and by avoiding needless exterior works requiring periodical painting, such as bargeboards, fascias, and imitation timber. It should not, however, be secured by cutting down unduly the size of the rooms, and should not be attempted by adopting other than sound methods of construction. Supply of Material. 51. The Director of Building Material Supplies, Ministry of Munitions, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, S.W. 1, is purchasing on behalf of the Government considerable quantities of materials which will be required for housing schemes. The materials in question are as follows :— Bricks. Tiles. Slates. Drain pipes. Cement. Washing coppers. Ironmongery. Sanitary ware. So SSIES SA PSY (613)