Architectural Record Magazine AR-1906-10

VOL. XX. No. 4. OCTOBER, 1906 WHOLE No. 97.
iiii^S^iliii^iii
An Orchard Garden Illustrated. . 269
Some Houses by Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey 281

Illustrated. HERBERT CROLY
The Bungalow at Its Best Illustrated 296
An Architect of Bungalows in California Illus. 306

ARTHUR C. DAVID
The House of Mr. C. P. Fox at Penllyn, Pa. 316
Illustrated. HENRY W. FROHNE
Two Houses by Robt. C. Spencer, Jr. Illus. 323
The House and Garden of Mr. F. C. Culver 335

Illustrated.
Colonial Architecture in the West Illustrated. 341
Notes and Comments 347

An American Venice
Detroit's Opportunity-
City Parks Association, Philadelphia The
Modern Hotel As Told in Germany.
C. W. SWEET, Publisher R.W. REINHOLD, Business Mgr.

H. W. DESMOND, Editor H. D. CROLY, Associate Editor
Subscription (Yearly), $3.00 Published Monthly
OFFICE OF PUBLICATION: Nos. 14 and 16 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK CITY,

WESTERN OFFICE: 511 MONADNOCK BLDC., CHICAGO, ILL.
OCTOBER, 19O6
An Orchard Garden
The house and garden of the Rev. Mr. which has been placed in the hands of an
Joseph Hutcheson, at Warren, Rhode architect from the start to the finish, and
Island, which is illustrated herewith, is which is designed as a whole. Some of
not only a very striking and beautiful the larger estates have been planned and
thing in itself, but it is an unusually in- designed in this spirit, but the function
structive modern American architectural of the architect in relation to the smaller
instance. Its architect, Mr. Charles A. estates usually ceases when he has su-
Platt, has afforded an example of the pervised the erection of the buildings.
complete design of the kind of a country It is obvious, however, that an .estate
place, which is for the most part very in- of several acres, no less than an estate of
completely designed. The plot of land on several hundred acres, should be devel-
which Mr. Hutcheson's house is situated oped under the eye of the architect, and
is neither very large nor very small. it is of the utmost
It importance that the
neither rises to the dignity of a country class of Americans who buy an estate of
estate nor sinks to the comparative in- this size and build upon it should be
significance of a suburban villa site. It brought to realize that the architectural

comprises some ten acres of land, so near treatment of the grounds is inseparably
to a large city that the trolley cars skirt connected with the architectural effect of
its boundaries, but so far away that the the house. When they fail to take com-
immediate neighborhood is not thickly petent advice as to the proper lay-out and
settled. Its owner consequently has as planting of their grounds, they are sin-
much room as he needs in which to sat- ning against their own opportunities just
isfy all the interests of country life ex- as flagrantly as they erected a vulgar
if
cept those connected with a large farm ;

and tawdry house. Every one of these
and when a well-to-do-family occupies a smaller estates will possess certain ad-
place of this size, they generally do it vantages as to location, view, exposure,
with the fullest intention of enjoying as the character and situation of the trees,
varied and abundant a country life as a and the like, which call for a certain par-
few acres of land will permit. Unfortu- ticular way of approach, certain particu-
nately,however, they rarely believe that larmeans of emphasizing its good points,
an architect can be of any assistance to and of evading or concealing its bad
them, except in the design of the house. points. And when such an estate starts
They usually consider themselves fully with a complete and appropriate lay-out,
competent to lay out the roads, select the its owner will be fully repaid for his
situation of the house, the stable, and the larger expenditure by the economy wifh
tennis court, and plant the flower garden. which his place can be subsequently de-
The architect's advice may be asked veloped. An ill-planned estate means a
about certain details, but it is a very rare continual process of tearing down and
occurrence to find a place of this kind reconstructing, whereas one that is well
Copyright, 190G, by "THE ARCHITECTURAL RECORD COMPANY." All rights reserved.
Entered May 22, 1902, as second-class matter, Post Office at New York, N. Y., Act of Congress of March 3d. 1879.
270
THE ARCHITECTURAL RECORD.
AN ORCHARD GARDEN.
271
272 THE ARCHITECTURAL RECORD.
AN ORCHARD GARDEN.
273
AN ORCHARD GARDEN.
2 75
27 6
AN ORCHARD GARDEN.
277
planned will become larger and older bordered as it was

by places similar in
without mutilation and waste. Age and size and character, it had to be planned
growth will only mean the confirmation in a somewhat exclusive manner, so that
of the original excellence of the design. its beauties could not be impaired or
The estate of Mr. Hutcheson consists spoiled by surroundings, which could not
of a long and narrow strip of land run- be controlled.
ning from an important road to the Wherever necessary, Mr. Hutcheson's
Sound. This land is level, rather than land has been separated from the road or
undulating; but as it approaches the from adjoining property by a concrete
water its slopes gently down to the sea. wall. The precise location "of the house
The most attractive view was that look- was determined partly by the desire to
THE LIBRARY REV. MR. JOSEPH HUTCHESON'S HOUSE.

Chas. A. Platt, Architect.
ig towards the Sound, and the house incorporate the apple trees in the garden,
had to be situatedand planned so that its and partly by the necessity of seeing the
inhabitants could enjoy the outlook in water and the islands beyond from a
"lat direction. The important natural proper distance. The long dimension of
auty of the site was an apple orchard, the house was naturally made parallel to
which was situated not far from the road, the road, so that its front porch would
and immediately adjoining one boundary face the approach, and its back porch
of the property. The area of the estate command the water view. A
straight
was large enough to afford abundant drive-way bordered with trees and shrub-
space for stables, gardens and out-build- bery leads from the road to the forecourt
ings, but it was not so
large that it could in front of the house, and these trees en-
afford to be indifferent to its neighbors. close a vista which is terminated by the
Situated as it was on a thoroughfare, colonnade and the entablature of the
with trolley cars
passing to and fro, and front porch. On the right of the drive-
2/8
AN ORCHARD GARDEN.
279
way, near the road, but surrounded by advantage of the site, and carefully shuts
trees,is the stable, while further along off every aspect of the land which is
on the same side is the tennis court. The either less beautiful or of dubious value.
narrower space to the left of the drive- As one examines the lay-out, it seems so
way is occupied first by the vegetable inevitable that one can hardly
imagine
garden and then by the flower garden, any other arrangement of the site, yet
but the flower garden is divided both simple, compact and inevitable as it ap-
from the drive-way and the vegetable pears, it might in less skillful hands have
garden by high walls, so that one sees gone wrong at a hundred different points.
nothing from the driveway but the wall A slight change in the location of the
and the trees. The garden can be reached house and the flower garden, in the meth-
by a gate in the wall but this gate is
;
od of approach, or in the plan of the
THE DINING ROOM REV. MR. JOSEPH HUTCHESON'S HOUSE.

Warren, R. I. Chas. A. Platt, Architect.
merely a matter of convenience. Archi- house iii relation to the plan of the
tecturally the garden is supposed to be grounds would have thrown out the
approached from the porch on the left whole scheme, which now fills the allotted
side of the house. The
garden itself does space very much as a well-composed
not, indeed, extend all the way to this sculptured relief fills without overcrowd-
porch; but one can step from the porch ing the selected surface.
on to the grass, and from there a few There is a prevalent impression among
steps will take one to the garden. The a number of architectural amateurs that
garden, which is enclosed on every other the charm of a country place depends
side, is, of course, left open in the direc- upon a certain inconsequence in its gen-
tion of the water. A simpler and more eral dispositions. They seem to think
serviceable plan could not be imagined, that when every character and detail of a
yet it takes advantage of every natural house and garden is carefully subordin-
ated to its service in a comprehensive The highest charm a matter of beauty

is
scheme, the result must necessarily be and style, as well as

atmosphere.
It would be It is not necessary to describe the
frigid and uninteresting.
well for such people to consider how house and garden in detail. The pho-
such a house and garden as that 01 Mr. tographs will tell the reader more as the
Hutcheson fits in with this general the- result of one glance than will be most
ory. Here is a place which has been elaborate and lengthy descriptions. I'.ut
planned throughout without the scrupu- we should like to call attention finally to
lous attention to detail, and yet it is most the admirable simplicity of the design of
assuredly one of the most charming the house, both inside and out. Archi-
places in this country. Moreover, its tectural ornament has been used with the
charm does not depend, as does that of utmost economy, and the effect is ob-
so many English houses, upon the mel- tained entirely by giving just the proper
lowing and softening effect of time, for emphasis to the salient parts of the
the garden had been planted only one facade. The order and its pediment, for
summer when the accompanying photo- instance, has a bold projection on the
graphs were taken. It depends abso- front and a still bolder one in the rear,
lutely upon the propriety" of the whole but in neither case is it over-bold. It is
scheme. Of
course, the propriety of the always a difficult thing to make a feature
whole scheme was not something which of this kind count just as it should in
any architect could have reached by the relation to the house, because it takes
application of certain principles or rules. only a small error in scale to throw out
The appropriate scheme was the issue of one of these big porticoes and when
;
the architect's ability to "see" the house they are either too weak or too strong, in-
and garden which was adapted to the stead of pulling the whole design together,
site, and the greater or smaller charm of they break it all to pieces. In the present
a country place will finally depend upon instance, however, the porticoes are a
the greater or smaller propriety of this source of integrity and strength, and by
initial conception. A country house can the very bigness of their scale they have
undoubtedly be charming while still be- enabled the architect to economize in the
ing inconsequential in many respects ;
use of smaller details. The whole effect
but the highest charm can only attach to shows a combination of refinement and
a place whose beauty does not reside strength which is very rare in American
merely in more or less important details. domestic architecture.
THE STAIRCASE REV. JOSEPH HUTCHESOX'S

HOUSE.
RESIDENCE OF MR. ROBT. C. GILLIS.
Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey, Architects.
Some Houses by Myron Hunt and

Elmer Grey
California has always been the land of will dominate the architecture of their
the newcomer, and as it becomes older it neighborhood.
does not seem to lose this characteristic. The southern part of California seems
Certain it is that, however much its busi- destined, so far as its architecture is con-
ness may now be carried on by the na- cerned, to run a similar course. Los
tive-born, its architecture has been for Angeles is a city which has grown so
the most part the work of immigrants rapidly and with such a small regard for
from Europe and the East. The recent appearances that it is only recently that
disastrous conflagration in San Fran- it could boast of
anything which could be
cisco destroyed a number of very inter- called architecture as distinguished from
esting business buildings which had been building; but during the last few years,
erected in the fifties by architects who which have been years of enormous
had received a European training. About building activity, it has begun to pay
thirty years later the revival of a good more attention to its appearance, and it
tradition of architectural design in San has received some assistance in this re-
Francisco was started by Page Brown, a spectfrom two architects who had aban-
newcomer from the East, and he was as- doned lucrative practices in the Middle
sisted in this work by Mr. Willis Polk, West for the sake of living in the climate
another Eastern immigrant. More re- of Southern California. One of these
cently the carrying out of the great archi- architects, Mr. Myron Hunt, had de-
tectural scheme which has been planned signed a number of admirable residences
for the University of California was en- in and near Chicago, while the other, Mr.
trusted to Mr. John Galen Howard, who Elmer Grey, had been equally successful
left behind in New York an enviable in the vicinity of Milwaukee. These
reputation for conscientious and brilliant gentlemen, after reaching Los Angeles,
architectural design, while the firm of entered into partnership, and in a few
Bliss & Faville, who are among the most years they have built up a clientele in
successful and capable of the younger that city which is even larger than the
San Franciscan architects, are compara- one which they had left behind them a
tively recent transcontinental travelers. fact which was all the more remarkable
There are a number of good native-born because they insisted upon receiving for
architects now practicing in San Fran- their work a percentage which was suffi-
cisco, but it will be some time before thev ciently large upon inexpensive jobs to
RESIDENCE AND GARDEN FOR MR. R. R. BLACKER.

Pasadena, Cal. Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey, Architects.
RESIDENCE AND GARDEN FOR MR. H. M. GORHAM.

Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey, Architects.
SOME HOUSES BY MYRON HUNT AND ELMER GREY.
283
THE COCHRAN HOUSE.

Los Angeles, Gal. Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey, Architects.
enable them to put in time and care on dwelling which an architect will have a
their designs. The
best possible way to chance to design will be .a suburban
make people understand the value of house, surrounded at the most by a few
something is to make them pay for it, and acres of land and costing at most $35,000
the ability of Messrs. Hunt and Grey to or $40,000; and the cost of the average
build up a large practice in spite of their house, even when intended for well-to-
higher charges was as beneficial to the do people, will not amount to as much as
cause of good architecture in Los An- half above-named figures.
the More-
geles as it was to the welfare of the gen- wonderful as are the opportunities
over,,
tlemen themselves. which the soil and climate of Southern
The architectural opportunities of a California offer for landscape gardening,
designer of domestic buildings in Los its inhabitants have not yet come to ap-
Angeles and its vicinity are abundant, preciate the value of a careful arrange-
but less money is spent upon the average ment and planting of the grounds so as
residence in and near that city than is to enhance or to complete an architec-
spent even upon the average resi- tural effect. It is the distinction of
dence in and near the Middle West- Messrs. Hunt and Grey that they have
ern cities. The neighborhood has been consistently used their influence in favor
increasing enormously in population and of a higher standard of design in this re-
wealth, but its great prosperity is so respect, and recently they have been much
cent that it cannot afford to lock up too more successful in persuading their
large a proportion of its capital in per- clients to spend a certain amount Ui
of
manent improvements. The largest monev in the formal treatment of
THE STAIRCASE HALL IN THE COCHRAN HOUSE.

L.OS Angeles, Cal. Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey, Architects.
r
286 lHE ARCHITECTURAL RECORD.

287
THE COCHRAN HOUSE.

Los Angeles, Ca!.
Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey, Architects
SOME HOUSES BY MYRON HUNT AND ELMER GREY. 289
ground immediately adjoining their this attempt carried to an extreme. They

houses. They have been trying to make did not, like certain other architects in
the design of each of their places as com- the Middle West, seek to ignore and defy
plete
as they could, and while in many the traditions of domestic architecture
cases the lots were too small for any which have been handed over to us by
elaborate scheme of landscape, architec- Europe; they merely sought to modify
ture and planting, our illustrations will them so as to make them more appro-
show that they have already made a fair priate to American conditions and mate-
beginning, and when the houses which rials, and they succeeded admirably in
are now under construction have been this effect. Mr. Hunt's houses were
THE HOTEL MARYLAND.

D
asadena, Cal. Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey, Architects.
finished Pasadena will have to its credit bold, definite, coherent pieces of design,
a number of gardens which have been composed of comparatively few elements,
designed with reference to architectural all of which counted in the most decisive
necessities and proprieties. and emphatic way while the best of Mr.
;
The work both of Messrs. Hunt and Grey's dwellings were among
the most
Grey during the years of their practice an
charming of their kind designed by
in Chicago and Milwaukee belonged to
American architect. It may be inferred,
what must be called the freer, more pic- Hunt and
consequently, that Messrs.
turesque and less formal type of design. were admirably suited, both by
It was the result of an attempt to break
Grey
their common characteristics and by
their
away from traditional forms and to give one from another, to form a
their houses an individual and local char- differences
useful and successful partnership.
acter. By neither of them, however, was
The work which they have been doing being loose in its design, and, above al
in Los Angeles and its vicinity is char- it is and charm. The in-
full of feeling
acterized by the same qualities as their terior has precisely the same character
work in the Middle West. It has free- as the exterior, and has all the admirable
dom, picturesqueness and charm, while qualities of some of Mr. Hunt's earlier
at the same time every house is a coher- interiors, particularly in his use of wood
ent and well-centered composition. We and in his bare, simple, pleasant wall 'all
have rarely seen, for instance, a shingled surfaces.

house with a hipped roof which we liked As much cannot be said in favor of
Cochran house
2
tl
better than the Spier house, at Pasadena. garden attached to the as

The design is an interesting mixture of in favor of the house itself.
facade The
economy and charm of tightness and of the building facing the garden has
incident. Mr. Hunt's buildings near been centered, so as to harmonize with
and complete the chief motive of the
garden, and this motive is in itself appro-
priate and interesting. But the garden

requires both a more definite enclosure
and a lay-out and a planting scheme which
fills the available space to better advan-
tage. The garden attached to Mr. Hunt's

own house is in this respect much more
successful. The architect needed in the
case of his own house a little more space
for his garden, but the space at his dis-
posal has been properly filled, and except
on one side sufficiently defined and en-
closed. The dense mass of evergreen >
at the back of the garden will give a per-
son who has never been to California rnia
some idea of the advantages, which tl
country and its architects enjoy by
of effective masses of foliage.
An examination of the three sketcl
given herewith of houses which are
=
under construction will disclose in these
newer buildings of Messrs. Myron Hunt
and Elmer Grey the appearance of a
somewhat different tendency in their
THE COCHRAN HOUSE.
work. Every one of these houses is
Los Angeles, Cal. planned in relation to a spacious formal
Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey, Architects. garden, and it is inevitable that this fact
should have a certain influence upon the
Chicago always had a satisfactory way design of the house. It cannot be said
of resting: firmly on the ground, and in that these houses will be classic in feel-
the present instance the firmness and ing or that they reproduce any more
strength which it derives from this char- definitely some traditional domestic style.
acteristic has been supplemented by a But it is certainly true that the pictur-
graceful and easy bearing. The Coch- esque and the incidental plays a less im-
ran house, in Los Angeles, is even more portant part in their effect and we infer ;
successful, because the architects had that this change is in part due to the fact
more of an opportunity. This dwelling that they have been designed in relation
has precisely the character of the best to a formal scheme of landscape treat-
modern English houses. It is simple with- ment. As soon as the masses and lines
out attenuation; it is homely without a house have to be arranged so as
crudity or affectation it is free without
;
complete or to fill a definite arrangem
SOME HOUSES BY MYRON HUNT AND ELMER GREY. 29 I
Pasadena, Gal. THE GARDEN SIDE MR. MYRON HUNT'S HOUSE.

THE McKEE HOUSE.

Monrovia, Cal. Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey, Architects.
THE McKEE HOUSE.

sets.
of the grounds simplification and concen- they are most needed, and surrounded by
tration of the exterior design becomes a scheme of landscape architecture which
necessary, and comparatively little oppor- emphasizes the salient and beautiful feat-
tunity is left for incidental features, and ures in the grounds, while
shutting off
a similar necessity tends to work a simi- that which is ugly and incongruous all
lar change in the plan of the house. The these things go together, and in
propor-
interiorpassage-ways have to be laid out tion as Messrs. Hunt and
Grey have
so as to lead naturally to the views and larger opportunities for making the coun-
vistas on the exterior, and the English try places they build conform to a com-
method of dividing a house into unrelated prehensive landscape and architectural
compartments has to be abandoned. In scheme, in that proportion we shall look
short, a dwelling planned as a series of for the introduction into their work of
connecting rooms, whose vistas harmon- an increasing spirit of classic economy
ize with the exterior lay-out, designed so and simplicity.
that its masses and lines count onlv where Herbert Croly,
THE McKEE HOUSE.

THE HOUSE OP MR. FRANK UNDERBILL.

Montecito, Cal. Designed by the Owner.
The Bungalow at Its Best
In an article upon the work of Messrs. and the ocean could be seen conveniently
Greene & Greene, in this number of the and to the best advantage; but the hills
Architectural Record, the bungalow is themselves were so far away that they
described as a dwelling in which the dis- did not count as an element in the archi-
tinction between the inside and outside of tectural composition. The overwhelm-
a house is reduced to the minimum. The ingly important natural characteristic
structure of the building when seen from and advantage of the site he had selected
without should not be designed to hold was' a group of superb live oaks and his
;
its own in the landscape, but should be problem was chiefly that of situating,
entirely subordinated thereto, while on planning and designing his house so that
the inside the plan of the house and the it would take its
place in the midst of
design of the rooms should be arranged, this grove, and looks out upon the trees
as far as convenience and propriety will from its windows and porches in the
permit, so as to tempt the eye outside happiest and most effective manner. The
and there to give it a pleasing prospect. grove of live oaks was growing in that
But a type of this kind could not be com- part of the site immediately adjoining the
pletely fulfilled in any one of the smaller road. The house consequently was
houses designed by Messrs. Greene & placed so near the road that no separate
Greene, because of a certain necessary driveway was required; neither is it
limitation of means and consequently
; screened from the road by a hedge or
the Architectural Record considers itself wall, for such a manner of treatment
fortunate in being able to reproduce a would not have been in keeping with Mr.
bungalow, which was designed con- Underhill's general idea. The house is
sciously as the embodiment of the type, raised to a somewhat higher level than
and the completeness of which was not that of the road, and is approached by a
impaired by any insufficiency of means. straight path over two low terraces. The
This is the house of Mr. Frank Underbill, upper part of these terraces becomes a
situated at Montecito, near Santa Bar- species of entrance court, for it is paved
bara, and designed entirely by the owner. in brick, and it is enclosed by the main
The site on which Mr. Underhill's body of the house and its two wings.
house is erected includes several acres of This court, which commands a view of
flat land lying between a road and the the distant hills, will eventually be
ocean. Situated as it was almost at sea screened from the road by tropical plant-
level, it naturally did not command any ing on its outer border.
considerable stretch of country, and from The location of the house so near the
any point of view on the site the trees ob- road leaves the largest portion of the
scured the largest outlines and features of land between the house and the sea and ;
the distant landscape. In arranging the in his treatment of this area Mr. Under-
plan, design and situation of his house, bill has made an ingenious and success-
consequently, Mr. Underbill had to face a ful combination of formal and informal
set of conditions which were less com- methods. The land immediately around
plicated than is frequently the case in a the house has been cleared of almost all
hilly country, such as that near the Cali- vegetation except the green grass and
fornia coast. He did not have to con- the live oaks, so that from the windows of
sider the location and the masses of his the house the effect is chiefly that of a
house in relation to the folds of the land- lawn shaded and shadowed by the very
scape in immediate neighborhood.
its beautiful trees. But, of course, this lawn
The high by which Santa Barbara
hills, had to be terminated and the view look-
and Montecito are surrounded do, of ing toward the ocean had to be defined,
course, loom up in the distance and in
;
and the general character of Mr. Under-
the opposite direction it was possible to bill's treatment did not allow him to use
obtain a glimpse of the sea. Mr. Under- architectural means in order to achieve
bill had to arrange so that both the hills these necessary purposes. He has conse-
THE BUNGALOW AT ITS BEST.
300
301
303
305
quently surrounded his land with a cir- in provisions which have been made for
cular mask of huge and thick bamboo enjoying from within its natural sur-
trees, the foliage of which will be dense, roundings. In the realization of this
but whose effect will be soft and yielding. part of his idea, Mr. Underbill has, in-
The only break in this screen has been deed, been obliged to introduce certain
placed on the line leading directly from artificial lines, because in no other
way
the house to the ocean. A
vista has could he profitably conduct the
eye of a
been opened up on this line, outlined by person, seated on his back terrace, across
the bamboo hedge, and terminating in a long stretch of grass to the ocean. But
the straight trunks of three eucalyptus he has planned his dining-room, which is
trees, through which the water is situated in one wing of the house, so that
seen. The eucalyptus trees appear from its occupant will feel as much as possible
the house to have been symmetrically that he is out of doors. The walls are
placed, but their symmetry is entirely a converted into large windows, quite un-
matter of ingenious optical arrangement, broken by any sashes, and designed so
as any reader may infer by examining as to frame the views of grass, trees and
the photograph, which shows the house, foliage, which are thereby revealed. In
enveloped in its live oaks, from a point this instance the wooden enclosure of the
near the trunks of these eucalyptus trees. room so far as possible broken down,
is
Of course, the effect at which Mr. Un- so that its inhabitants may live, at least
derbill is aiming has not as yet entirely with their eyes, out-of-doors. Conven-
been achieved. The bamboo hedge and ience, of course, forbids that this idea
screen has only just been set out, and it should be carried out in all the apart-
has not yet obtained enough growth to ments of a house and in this as in other
;
play its part as an efficient screen. But respects, Mr. Underbill shows how well
any reader who studies the pictures care- he keeps his ideas in hand. The only in-
fully can imagine without much effort stance, in which he has, perhaps, over-
how the view looking towards the ocean worked them, is in his refusal to remove
will ultimately be defined, and he cannot the rocks and ferns which have been left
fail to agree with the writer that it under a clump of live oaks within full
would be difficult to conceive a happier view of the house. Before the house
and completer adaptation of informal was built and before the surround-
planting to the purpose of formally de- ing lawn was graded, planted and cut,
fining a view. rocks and ferns around the live oaks were
The reader will notice that the house appropriate, but now that a house has
plays a very inconspicuous part in the been built, and now that the lawn has all
photographs and he must not suppose
;
the appearance of a cultivated bit of na-
that its modesty is anything but inten- ture, the pretended wildness of rocks and
tional. The actual surface, the definite ferns in their immediate vicinity looks
lines, and the unyielding mass of the like an affectation. A stretch of level
building are not meant to be seen at all. lawn, carefully cropped and combed, is
At present they show somewhat, but as artificial a piece of nature as a trimmed
eventually the whole of the house, bar- hedge, but it is an artifice which is justi-
ring only the roof, will be covered by fied by its propriety and convenience. It
Cherokee rose vines, and the structure of stamps the surroundings with a certain
the house will in this way be submerged character, and that character should be
in the surrounding foliage. Thus it will preserved throughout the grounds imme-
be seen that Mr. Underbill's house has diatelv surrounding the house and en-
been designed throughout for the pur- closed by the bamboo hedge. This, how-
pose of making it nestle down into the ever, is the only instance in which Mr.
country. It is eventually to count almost Underbill has over-worked his idea and ;
entirely as a mass of foliage, in relation in other respects his house is an admir-

to surrounding masses of foliage and ;
able example of the happy and discreet
the same idea has been followed, so far embodiment in a house of an appropriate
as possible, in the plan of the house and and profitable idea.
306
MAIN ENTRANCE, MRS. A. TICHENOR'S HOUSE.

Long Beach, Cal. Greene & Greene, Architects.
VIEW FROM THE WEST, MRS. A. TICHENOR'S HOUSE.
Long Beach, Cal. Greene & Greene, Architects.
An Architect of Bungalows in California.

The bungalow is a distinct and inter- free circulation of all the air thatwas
esting architectural type, the precise na- stirring;and intended as they were for
ture of which is not generally under- only temporary occupation, there was no
stood; and in considering the work of necessity for the use of expensive mate-
Messrs. Greene & Greene it will be well rials. They were cheap buildings which
in the beginning to attempt some defini- were to provide shade and shelter, but
tion of the type. The name is applied planned so as to give the completest pos-
loosely to all kinds of small and cheap sible communication between in-doors
wooden villas, the design of which is con- and out. The apartments were large and
sciously intended to be picturesque but ; airy, the walls not very tightly ceiled;
in order to understand precisely what there were plenty of doors and windows,
the merits and tendencies of the type are, through which the air could enter; and
it will be well to seek a more the whole aspect of both the design and
specific de-
scription and we can obtain the best clue
; of the domestic arrangements was some-
to that description by recalling the origin what provisional and informal.
and the purpose of this kind of dwelling. The American bungalow, if -it is to be
They originated, so far as we know, in worthy of the name, should not depart
tropical countries, such as India, and essentially from the fgregotng type. Of
were intended for the habitation of Eng- course, in no part of America, not even
lishmen who wanted to be as comfortable in the South or in Southern California,
as they could during a comparatively is the climate really tropical; and this
short period of occupation. A
number fact will have its influence. On the other
of very definite characteristics resulted hand, in the greater part of the United
from the attempt to meet such needs. State the climate is very cold in winter;
Built as they were for a hot climate, they and in all these regions the bungalow has
had to supply plenty of shade, and the comparatively little propriety. A house
GUEST ROOM, MRS. A. TICHENOR'S HOUSE.

Greene & Greene, Architects
DINING-ROOM, MRS. A. TICHENOR'S HOUSE.

Long Beach, Gal. Greene & Greene, Architects.
I
AN ARCHITECT OF BUNGALOWS IN CALIFORNIA.
309
whose foundations must go below the galow is out of place in the Northern
frost line and whose plan and structure and Eastern States, except when intended
must be adapted chiefly to keeping its exclusively for summer residence, and
inhabitants warm in cold weather, tends as the prevailing tendency is to build
to obtain a character and an appearance country houses which may, if necessary,
very different from the bungalow. We be occupied in winter, it is not to be ex-
are aware that the American bungalow pected that the bungalow will become a
derives more of its characteristics from popular type of dwelling in the North
Japanese models than it does from build- and the East. It has, however, already
in g^s erected in tropical countries, and we become an extremely popular type in the
MR. C. W. HOLLISTER'S HOUSE.

Hollywood, Cal. Greene & Greene, Architects.
are aware that in Japan they enjoy a temperate climate of California, and it is
period of the "Greater Cold" in which there that bungalows are being built more
the temperature approximates to that of and better than anywhere else in the
our own Northern States, but we are also country. The chmate of California, be-
aware that the Japanese do not make any ing both warm and dry, is peculiarly
provision against this cold which would adapted to a low, spacious, airy house, of
seem sufficient to a steam-heated Ameri- light frame construction, in which as
lit-
can. Their houses are open and airy tle distinction as possible is made between
even in winter, and there is no attempt in-doors and out, and the character of the
to plan them in the way that we Amer- social life makes this sort of dwelling
icans do, as chiefly and essentially for- still more suitable. Most Californians
tresses to protect its inhabitants against are people of substantial but moderate
the attacks of Jack Frost. No ! the bun- means, and of informal tastes, who want
3 io THE ARCHITECTURAL RECORD.
an attractive but inexpensive residence, quently, no matter whether it is shingled

and who are not quite sure that they in- or clap-boarded, should be low in key and
tend to live in their present abiding place should correspond to that of the natural
formore than a few years. wood. Its most prominent architectural
The California bungalow, consequent- member inevitably be its roof, be-
will
ly ^both as amatter of design and as a cause it will combine a considerable area

matter of plan, has about it a certain with an inconsiderable height, and such a
practical and aesthetic tendency. Its roof must have sharp projections and
whole purpose is to minimize the dis- cast heavy shadows, not only for the
tinction which exists between being in- practical purpose of shading windows
THE HOUSE OP JUDGE WILLETT.

Aroyo Terrace. Greene & Greene, Architects.
sideand outside of four walls. The and piazzas, but for the aesthetic one of
rooms of such a building .should conse- making sharp contrasts in line and shade
quently be spacious, they should not be to compensate for the moderation of
shut off any more than is necessary one color. Its aesthetic character will neces-
from another, and they should be finished sarily 'be wholly picturesque and it
;
in wood simply designed and stained so should be both surrounded by trees and
as to keep so far as possible its natural covered, so far as is convenient, with
texture and hue. The exterior, on the vines.
other hand, should not be made to count A bungalow, designed in the manner
very strongly in the landscape. It should described above,constitutes an appro-
sink, so far as possible, its architectural priate and an interesting architectural
individuality and tend to disappear in its type. The type is not very often com-
natural background. Its color, conse- pletely fulfilled, because they are gener-
ally such cheap little buildings that no extraordinarily successful in adapting

architect's feecan enter into their cost of the masses of his houses to their sur-
construction but it is most completely
;
roundings and envelopment. An extra-
and happily fulfilled in the houses of ordinarily intimate relation is established
Messrs. Greene & Greene, which we pub- between the houses and the landscape,
lish herewith. These houses are all situ- and it will become still more intimate
ated in the suburban towns near Los An- when the shrubbery and the vines have
geles, and they have not cost any more obtained a more luxuriant growth.
than small suburban houses usually do. How simple the means are, whereby
Nevertheless, instead of being like most this success is obtained There is no
!
Greene & Greene, Architects.
suburban houses, at best unobjectionable straining after picturesque and episodic

and at worst an eyesore, they are delight- treatment for its own sake and except in
;
ful in the picturesque propriety of their one or two details there is no affectation
appearance. Some of them are situated of mere rusticity. The houses are highly
upon such small lots that they cannot successful, largely because they so frank-
have any background in the landscape, ly meet the economic, domestic and prac-
or any sufficient envelopment of foliage ;
tical conditions which they are intended
and in these instances the houses, while to satisfy. All of their chief characteris-
still
interesting, become a little common- tics their lowness, their big overhanging
place. But wherever the architect has roofs, their shingled or clapboarded walls,
had a bit of country or some good trees the absence of architectural ornament,
in which to nestle his house, he has been the mixture which they afford of simple
312
means with, in some instances, almost a houses uncouth and primitive, they are
>l>v'ctacular effect all these characteris- giving these buildings a much more gen-
tics can be traced to some good reason in uinely natural character. It is not nec-
the actual purpose which this sort of essary to discuss the theory, which per-
house intended to meet. Of course, in
is suades people that the way to bestow a
addition thereto Messrs. Greene & Greene rural and homely character on a house is
must be credited with a happy and un- to build it as artificially as possible but
;
usual gift for architectural design. Their we must refer to the only instances in
work is genuinely original, and if any- which Messrs. Greene & Greene have
thing like as good has been done with shown any indication of this tendency.
cheap little houses elsewhere in this They are prone both in their chimney-
DR. A. A. LIBBY'S HOUSE.

South Orange Avenue, Pasadena, Cal. Greene & Greene, Architects.
country, it has not been our good fortune breasts and in their foundations to build
to come across it.
heavy boulders, which
their walls of large
We have said that except in one or two are ugly in themselves, and are entirely
details there is no affectation of rusticity, out of keeping with their surroundings
and we must dwell for a moment on this and with the service they perform. The
point. The designers of bungalows fre- use of such uncouth and heavy masonry
quently try to give them a "truly rural" is a mere affectation. When laid
character by making them look as much in the foundations of a house or
as possible like log cabins. They use porch, it emphasizes something which
heavy masonry and timbers which still does not need emphasis, and which
retain their bark or are at best hewn when over-emphasized looks too big for
rather than cut by a saw and they'
evi-
; the service it performs. W T
hen used in
dently believe that by keeping their a chimney-breast, the effect of such heaw
315
masonry is to make everything else in the to small houses. It is the low, one and
room seem trivial. Its scale is so exces- a half or two-story
dwellings in which
sive that no other detail can make itself they excel, and when they come to design
feltexcept the chimney; a result which a building that is higher,
bigger and more
may be appropriate in a hunter's cabin in expensive, they do not sufficiently adapt
the northern woods, but which is absurd their technical
machinery to the modified
in a suburban house near Los Angeles. conditions. Take, for instance, the house
A hunter's cabin is nothing but a room which is illustrated herewith, at
665
built around a fireplace ;
and it is only South Orange Avenue, in Pasadena. In
intended to be occupied by men who have this larger and higher
building the sim-
been tramping and shooting all day and ple roof does not make any effect at all in
wish in the evening to sit snug around a proportion to its expanse, and the whole
MRS. JENNIE A. REEVE'S HOUSE.

Pasadena, Cal. Greene & Greene, Architects.
blazing fire. But a bungalow is within effect, instead of being light, graceful
its limits a complete human habitation, in and picturesque, is awkward and inept.
which a variety of domestic refinements It looks like an overgrown boy who has
and interests have their place. The evi- clung to his pinafores. Whatever de-
dences and utensils of such a completer ductions we may make, however, in con-
domestic should not be subordinated
life sidering the work of Greene & Greene.
to a big, overpowering, unwieldy chim- it remains true that they have imparted
ney-breast. as much architectural propriety and a
One additional comment on the work more charm to the design of in-
positive
of Messrs. Greene & Greene deserves to expensive bungalows as have any archi-
be made, which is that their methods of tects in the country.
design are not so well adapted to large as Arthur C. David.
3 i6
The House of C. P. Fox at Penllyn, Pa.
In an article on Roman Art published In Mr. Fox's house at Penllyn we
recently in the Architectural Record,* have a compromise between the de-
the author in reviewing the wonderfully veloped American cottage with its
practical turn of mind verandas and porches and the Eng-
of the Romans,
called particular attention to their villas. lish house with its low roofs and pic-
These sagacious people, it was pointed turesque chimneys. We would call at-
out, always disposed all their rooms on tention to the fact that, although this is
one story in their country residences, a two story house, the two floors are
as economy of ground was there always treated together architecturally to the
a secondary and therefore negligible subordination of the customary half
consideration. This admirable arrange- story attic which is expressed only by
ment resulting from a perfectly appar- several slits under the gables. The first
ent condition has not yet appealed to floor, too, is kept very close to the
any extent to American architects. The ground-level, giving the ensemble the
California bungalow designers have ar- effect of a low and attractive house.
rived at the same one-story solution, In its plan disposition it does not per-
but many of our even modest country haps come as near to the Roman villa
houses attain a height of three stories, ideal as does the English manor house,
and as a consequence lose much of but the effect which, after all, is the ulti-
that charm possessed by their Roman mate object of the architect, is pleas-
predecessors, as well as retaining many ing and what one would expect and
of the inconveniences of the naturally take pleasure in, in a suburban country
more confined and less extensible city house of this extent.
houses. The English architects, as a The designer does not repeat, as is
class, seem to have come nearer to the so often. the case, devices and details
Roman ideal many of their manor
;
of a monumental character, in a simpli-
houses, even the extensive ones, are but fied and perhaps meaningless fashion;
a story high, -with an attic of an extra he uses simple means to get broad, sim-
half story.These houses, however, ple effects. He treats the roof as a
often acquire their charm more from covering to the house, and attempts no
picturesque gardens and natural acces- decoration save what perchance a hap-
sories than from the skill of the de- pily chosen color will give him he;
signers. treats the walls as simply as he does

American architects a few centuries the roof, and gets his effect here again
ago started with a French stone archi- by color. The doors and windows alone
tecture, which they endeavored to ren- come in for a very small share of dec-
der in wood with certain modifications orative embellishment. The chimneys,
dictated by the nature of the material. being considered a part of the roof, are
The result when applied to a country kept dark and in tone with it. The ce-
house was a bare, rather cold and stilted ment with which the walls are covered,
it will be noticed, stops at the water-
composition whose merit lay rather in
the clever adaptation of details than in table and reveals the well-shaped
excellence of massing and general con- stones of which the foundation is com-
ception. But other foreign influences, posed.
growth and a change in the mode of liv- With the assistance of the interior
ing, has gradually brought about a modi-
views shown herewith, the reader can
fication both in plan disposition and in readily in his mind picture the plan
the architectural treatment of masses. of the house of the first floor at
l eas t the chimneys lending material
*Roman aid in the visual picture. The spec-
Art, by Jean Schopfer. June and July,
1006. tator enters from the front porch into
THE HOUSE OF C. P. POX AT PENLLYN, PA. 319
M
THE HOUSE OF C. P. FOX AT PENLLYN, PA. 321
3 22
a large living ball, with a staircase

in lutely a part of the house, until the latter
on either side of which are can convince him that it is to his every
plain view, In some instances, a client
situated the dining-room and a drawing advantage.
the will calmly acquiesce in throwing away
room, with a library or den beyond and meretricious
money in unsuitable
latter. Attached to the dining-room are
tlu- kitchen, pantry and service depen- ornament, when he would strenuously
dencies. The chimneys, which are object to spending anything for land-
plainly but attractively brought out in scape accessories, grading and the like;
that this work, in his mind, is superfluous
large 'fireplaces, are so arranged
occur in convenient places in the and created simply to indulge the indi-
they
rooms. vidual fancy of the architect.
principal
It is in the hope that architects and
The veranda or porch seems here to
have been reduced to its lowest terms, prospective house owners will take a
livelier interest in the treatment of the
but what there is of it has been effect-
as suburban lot, that this subject is called
ively rendered and acts aesthetically
an appendage to balance the kitchen at to mind.
the other end of the house, as shown Sometimes the problem confronting
in the view (Fig. i). A falling of the the architect the opposite to that just
is
grade in front of the veranda gives it cited, namely, to design a house suitable
an admirable setting in the shape of a to given surroundings. But this problem,
wall laid up dry in stones, similar to in the nature of the case, is one in which
those used in the foundation. more latitude is allowed the architect.
Of the landscape treatment, one can- The general Character only of the house
not speak intelligently on the basis of is dictated to be worked out according
the two views shown herewith, but the to the light and experience of the de-
rather bleak state of affairs calls to signer. We all feel that a low, rambling,
mind an important consideration, that of picturesque house goes best with rugged
making attractive the average suburban surroundings, and that a more dignified
lot. This problem is woefully neglected and formal treatment answers better for
by many American architects, who, with less romantic conditions.
a little more interest in the subject, In the house before us we have a II
might materially alter the aspect of compromise between the picturesque
things. Scores of little houses, other- and the dignified, a composition that
wise very attractive, are annually being one cannot help but feel, would ap-
built in the suburbs, and often not the pear to better advantage with shrub-
slightest attempt is made to bring about
some kind of harmony between the
houses and their surroundings. The re-
bery and low, luxuriant trees.
little dark yew trees, set down here
and there, help to remind one that
The
I
sult we all deplore, but what are we there is life within, but the roadways
doing to improve the conditions? True, and paths, would seem, might join
it
there arelarge and beautiful gardens issues, as were, to better advantage

it
surrounding many of our most preten- with the house. Perhaps, however, this
tious suburban residences, but it is of criticism is unfair, for the landscape here
thfc&fciodest houses that we speak. This shown may be in an uncompleted state,
iK'glect of the suburban lot is perhaps the pictures having been taken when the
as much the fault of the client as of the trees were just beginning to bud. How-
architect, who, if he be inclined or com- ever this may be, one feels that the
petent to solve the problem, does not house would gain very much in appear-
approach his client on the subject for ance if brought into closer touch with
frar of being rebuffed. The small the vegetation, which could be accom-
houseowner does not realize how im- plished at a comparatively small expendi-
portant, commercially as well as artis- ture, and would give the house the nat-
tically, is the total appearance of his ural touches necessary to exhibit it as
place, and he will be loath to give such a distinctly good composition de-
tlu- architect any latitude in spending serves.
money for anything that is not abso- Henry W. Frohnc.
Two Houses by Robert C. Spencer, Jr.
We illustrate herewith two houses by the low smooth chimneys and gen-
an architect whose work should be fair- erally clear-cut silhouette of the com-
ly familiar to readers of the Architect- position are ever characteristic of Mr.
ural Record. In these days of specializa- Spencer's country houses. He seems
tion even the fine arts have been unable to delight in sharp contrasts as be-
to escape the inevitable, and we have tween differently colored materials,
commercial architects, residence archi- hence the frequent use of wood and ce-
tects and, more particularly, country ment on the exteriors. Deep and lumi-
'house architects. Of this last class Mr. nous shadows, too, seem to hold for him a
Robert C. Spencer, Jr., is a very good strong fascination. The often excessive
FIG. 1. MRS. WATERMAN'S HOUSE AT PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

Robt. C. Spencer, Jr., Architect.
example. Located in Chicago, his ac- projection of the eaves gives him the
tivities are,however, not confined to any chiaroscuro effects that please him and
one part of the United States, as wit- reveals, in a diffused light, the mottled
ness one of the two houses we propose texture of the cement work in contrast
to treat herein, a house at Parkersburg, to the well-shaped and finished timbers
West Virginia. In it the architect has that divide the wall space. Mr. Spen-
chosen a treatment not essentially dif- cer'shouses are generally well developed
ferent from many of his western coun- aesthetically;they have something to
try houses. has the characteristic
It stand on and grow naturally from the
flat, hipped roof, with far projecting soil, and do not give the appearance of
eaves, cemented paneled walls, with being dumped down. Figures I and 2
separating timber work. The sharp illustrate particularly well what is meant;
projecting towers carried up in bold here we have a foundation of perfectly

dormers are here likewise present ; plain, but well-shaped brick, with a
324
TWO HOUSES BY ROBERT C. SPENCER, JR.
525
FIG. 3. A DETAIL OF THE PORCH SHOWN IN FIGS. 1 AND 2.
MRS. WATERMAN'S HOUSE AT PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

Robt. C. Spancer, Jr., Architect.
TWO HOUSES BY ROBERT C. SPEXCER, JR.
327
328
329
Tll'0 HOUSES BY ROBERT C. SPENCER, JR.
331
smooth beveled cement water table, the enclmost rafter by slender chains the ;
which is carried around

the retaining glass of the door, as well as of the high
wall of the steps, broken out in a plat- square windows on either side, is attrac-
form in front of the door and topped tively treated in lead strips and color;
with a brick parapet in rough cement the panels under each of the windows
treated similarly to the surface of the are framed with a delicate raised mould,
walls. The potted plants and vines form the field being beaded and occupied by
very useful accessories in the treat- an ingeniously conventionalized plant
ment, deftly softening the otherwise ornament in delicate relief. Even the
FIG. 10. MR. AUG. MAGNUS' HOUSE THE FRONT PORCH AND TOWERS.
Vinnetka, 111. Robt. C. Spencer, Jr., Architect.
hard lines where the masonry pene- leaders,which conduct the rain-water
trates the ground. The house being but from the eaves back to the wall and
one story high, naturally presents, with down into the ground, hardly offend
its
deep shadows, bold tower dormers one's sense of propriety by cutting, as
and well grouped windows, a very they do, through the air and across the
charming little home. A
nearer view panels between door and windows on ;
(Fig. 3} of one of the doors, the one the contrary they seem quite proper and
shown in Figs, i and 2, reveals in the intentionally a part of the decorative
deep shadow of the eaves several interest- scheme. The interiors offer less of in-
ing features of decoration. A
simple but terest, the variety of fireplace treatment
very effective lamp is suspended from being the most inviting detail. Fig. 4 is
332
FIG. 11. MR. AUG. MAGNUS' HOUSE DETAIL OF STAIRS.

\Viniietka, 111. Robt. C. Spencer. Jr., Arcli:
I
333
334
worthy of a passing note. The frame estly proclaim the existence of attic
paneling of beautiful bird's-eye maple
is rooms, the roof is broken by chimneys
well managed, and shows wood used in only, and in an unemphatic way. The
a proper and very successful way; the two towers, which are coupled together
the rails over the entrance in a balcony, though
panels are happily composed,
and stiles forming an effective border appropriate and attractive enough them-
around the chimney opening, which is selves, do not combine happily. They
further softened by a parallel ring of give the effect of two columns whose
metal over the arched top and domical bases are not on the same level. The
hood, which besides its ornamental func- architect has evidently tried hard to
tion, is also useful for preventing smoke make them as different in shape and
from easily blowing into the room, as treatment as possible; in the octagonal
well as for shielding the woodwork one the vertical lines have accord-
before mentioned. Altogether it is ingly been emphasized and continued
a very successful fireplace obtained by to the base, while in the rectangular
simple means, which, with our gaudy one the vertical lines are abruptly
and vulgar tendencies, is something rare terminated at the second floor in
and cannot be too highly commended. the form of a heavy horizontal timber
The broad flower frieze running around and a floor, which throws the first story
the room is an ingenious device for of this mass into the entrance porch.
cutting down the height of the ceil- The large screened veranda, shown also
ing, and gives scale to the room. The in Figs. 7 and 8, is a useful, as well as an
other two interior views show a simi- effective, architectural appendage to the
lar treatment of the walls with a simpler house.
and more inconspicuous frieze decora- As
a composition of masses, the rear,
tion. In the dining-room, Fig. 5, with one dominant projecting mass
its
we have a highly decorative glass and pierced in numerous windows, is more

metal lamp, but much richer than the one successful than the front. The illustra-
that we noted over the entrance. It tions of this house include also an at-
starts rather abruptly from the perfectly tractive little servants' cottage and stable
plain ceiling and is, perhaps, a little (Fig. 12) treated to match the house; its
vigorous in design for its purpose. eaves have such a projection that the
In the other house, that of Mr. Aug. squatty second story windows are en-
Magnus, at Winnetka, 111., we immedi- tirely in shadow. The flower boxes in
ately recognize many of the architect's
characteristics, his likes and dislikes.
Fig. 7 shows the front of the house
the porch and one in the second story
are very effective touches inexpensively
secured. The other view ( Fig. 1 1 ) shows
I
standing on a very low cement a simple, but very admirable wooden
base, so low that one is compelled stairs, in which the characteristics of the
to look at the nearer views to make material are satisfactorily brought out.
it out. It is nevertheless there, and It runs up in the octagonal tower, of
serves its purpose well. Compared which we have just spoken this accounts
;
with the Parkersburg house, this is a for the curving inside string which con-
really large establishment, but lacks forms in its rise to the general shape of
somehow the picturesque charm of the the mass in which it mounts. If now we
smaller one. This shortcoming is, how- go back to our peculiar tall tower (Fig.
ever,amply compensated for, by an air 10) and regard it as a staircase inclosure,
of repose and dignity, due largely, no it explains itself more to our satisfaction,
doubt, to its sharp, clean-cut masses. Ex- even if we do not altogether approve of
cept on the back (Fig. 8), where sev- the treatment that has been accorded it
eral small inconsequential dormers mod- in the massing of the composition.

The House and Garden of Mr. F. C. Culver
It is a very unfortunate thing for houses of a certain cost are either placed
American domestic architecture that the in the hands of builders or else are turned
better architects, particularly in the East, over to inferior architects or draughts-
so rarely design small houses. The plan men. It is only in the West that the best
of a small house frequently even more
is local architects are still willing to under-
difficult to work out thanthat of a much take this comparatively unremunerative
larger one, and, as like as not, it is class of work, and that is only because
equally difficult to fit a good-looking de- the proportion of highly remunerative
THE HOUSE OF F. C. CULVER, ESQ.

Hadlyme, Conn. Chas. A. Platt, Architect.
sign to the plan. It requires ingenious domestic work is still comparatively

contriving to make a modest sum of small in that part of the country. It
money go a long way, and an architect seems inevitable that the man who wants
is, of course, paid very much less for all to build a good but inexpensive house will
this work in the case of an inexpensive have to pay comparatively more for his
house than he is in the case of an expen- plans than a man who wants to build a
sive one. The consequence is that many good but more expensive house.
architects, and these the most conscien- The discovery of a comparatively in-
tious members of their profession, cannot expensive house design by a good archi-
afford to undertake small jobs, and tect is consequently an extremely wel-
THE HOUSE OF F. C. CULVER, ESQ. DETAIL OF ENTRANCE.

Hadlyme, Conn. chas A platt
_ _ Architec t.
THE HOUSE AND GARDEN OF MR. F. C. CULVER. 337
THE HOUSE OF F. C. CULVER, ESQ. THE PERGOLA AT THE BACK.

THE HOUSE OF F. C. CULVER, ESQ. A BIT OF THE GARDEN.

THE HOUSE AND GARDEN OF MR. F. C. CULVER. 339
come one, and the residence of Mr. F. C. amid somewhat rough surroundings
its
Culver, at Hadlyme, Conn., is such a dis- as agood New England farmhouse

covery. It was designed by Mr. Charles would look, and at the same time it gains
A. Platt, and is perhaps the best of the the distinction imparted by a very much
several less costly houses for which that higher tradition of style.
architect is responsible. About ten years Very simple means have been used to
ago he designed a number of modest obtain a most charming effect. The site
frame dwellings, with gardens attached, affords a prospect across and along a
situated chiefly at Cornish, N. H., and all river which is one of the most beautiful
of these houses consisted of an adapta- views of the kind in this country, and
THE HOUSE OF F. C. CULVER, ESQ. A VIEW OF THE RIVER.

tion of the outlines of an Italian villa the house is situated and planned so that
to a frame building and a New England its porches and living rooms overlook
landscape. In the earlier houses the this river view. The edge of the plateau
frame was covered in with a sheathing of on which the house is located is outlined
broad rough boards, but in the present by a low stone wall, which is separated
instance he has used the large Long from the building by a flat bare lawn, so
Island shingle, which is a distinct im- that there is nothing to interfere with the
provement. They afford a more interest- enjoyment of the natural beauties of the
ing surface and give the house a more site. The garden has been placed on one
natural and idiomatic appearance. Mr. side, its axis coinciding with the central
Culver's residence looks as appropriate line of the two porches and the colonnade
340
which connects them, and it is assuredly affected or slovenly. It is merely an ad-

one of the most charming small gardens ditional of the happy com-
illustration
in this country. Its scale harmonizes pleteness with which the design of the
perfectly with that of the house and its house and the garden has been wrought
character with that of its surroundings. into the site. A
better example could not
In general appearance it is just a little be desired of a "formal" plan which de-
rough, as it should be, considering the pends upon the use of simple means and
roughness of some of the immediately which reaches a novel, picturesque and
adjoining land, but its roughness has not idiomatic effect.
the remotest suggestion either of being H. D. C.
THE HOUSE OF F C. CULVER, ESQ. A GARDEN VIEW.

Colonial Architecture in the West
That the arts and sciences follow civi- composition or its detail to undeceive one
lization was never more conclusively il- for a moment, not even the attractive
lustrated than in our own country. The bow window supported on vigorous-
hardy pilgrims that settled our rugged looking consoles, a detail of which ap-
shores brought with them recollections pears herewith. There is something
of the architecture in vogue at that time frank, something naive and ingenious
in their countries. These recollections about Colonial houses that an English-
found their fullest expression in what we man would perhaps sum up in one word
know as Colonial Architecture, examples homely. The exteriors are inviting
of which may be seen to-day all along but not pretentious, decorative but not
the coast from Maine to Georgia and ornate. On the interiors they are frank,
Florida. As civilization advanced west- giving what their exteriors promise
ward, places of abode for the settlers had and refinement of de-
cosiness, delicacy
to follow. These structures, compared tail.
even to the rudest of the coast houses, The expression that an architect gives
were positively primitive, but even after a house, is to a certain extent an expres-
conditions had become sufficiently stable sion of his relation with the client. If the
for the establishment of permanent latter be particularly amenable and ami-
homes, and people had acquired money able in his intercourse with the archi-
to build them, the result in most cases tect, there can be no doubt that the work
was by no means happy. The architec- the architect -does for him, will be per-
ture of these first western houses was in- formed with a keen pleasure which can-
fluenced, very often, by other foreign not help making itself visible in the
tendencies less admirable than those of aspect of the finished product. If, on the
the Renaissance. In many cases archi- other hand, the client is a difficult person
tectural tradition had become so weak to deal with pleasantly, the architect will
that the result was positively ludicrous. approach his task with a necessarily dim-
But we have now arrived at a period in inished interest. Then, again, the de-
which artistic education is fast becoming signer's state of mind and all the petty
more general throughout the United troubles of the day's work show their in-
States than even the most sanguine had fluences in the architectural composition
hoped for half a century ago. The as they would in a painting or a piece of
American architect is continually en- sculpture.
countering new problems and solving Little do we think when we behold
them in his own way. He has even one of the world's masterpieces, what
struck out on new lines. The country must have been the complex causes for
house is a strictly American the ideas that prompted the master to
product, and
it is at this kind of work that the Ameri- express himself as he did and how his
can architect shows at his best. work would perhaps have taken on a
We show herewith two Colonial different form .amid other surroundings
houses in Kenosha, Wis. Colonial archi- at another time. But it is the idea in a
tecture, it seems, has got to be almost as work of art that is striven after, and it
well known and as that that the interested spectator should
effectively and cor- is
rectly rendered in the west as anywhere try to follow in his study if he would be
in the Atlantic States. So accurate is rewarded for his labor. It is in this
spirit that the Western architect appears

the western architect's on
knowledge
the subject nowadays that one might to have studied the Colonial country
look at the house of Mr. Charles
Jeffrey house and transplanted it, not simply its
(Fig. i) and imagine it were in New external signs, to the remotest parts of
England. There is nothing in either 'its the United States.
342
COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE IN THE WEST.
THE HOUSE OF MR. CHAS. JEFFREY DETAIL OF THE ORIEL AND PORCH.
Kenosha, Wis. Pond & Pond, Architects.
344
COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE IN THE WEST.
345
THE ARCHITECTURAL RECORD
AN AMERICAN VENICE CANAL THOROUGHFARES AND LAGOON IN
THE RESIDENTIAL SECTION.
Near Los Angeles, Cal. Marsh & Russell, Architects.
NOTES ^COMMENTS
Out of the hundred which line
it. He came as do thousands of
thousand Americans who others merely out of casual interest, but
AN yearly "do" the Old World he returned to America an enthusiast in his
are some who turn to admiration of the Italian Renaissance. His
AMERICAN the United States with enthusiasm shaped itself into the idea of
VENICE, ideas and w'ho have the imitating some of the designs of making a
money to give these ideas monument to his name by reproducing them
practical form. Weneed .permanently. Calling to his aid two of the
nut dwell upon the fact that many an art leading architects of Los Angeles, where he
collection has had its inception in the casual resides, Mr. Kinney practically gave them
visit of the millionaire to the Louvre or carte blanche to plan this Venice in 'minia-
some of the galleries of Italy and Holland. ture, so that fully $5,000,000 will be ex-
The Italian garden, now so popular as an pended when the principal structures it is
ornate feature of the country seat and to contain are completed and its network of
suburban grounds, is the result of the ob- canals is ready for the gondola.
servation of the American traveler. With- The California Venice also affords an illus-
out number are the churches, halls, schools tration of how a barren spot of ground can
and other structures modeled after Old be beautified by the efforts of the landscape
World edifices whose architecture has caught engineer in connection with the architect,
the fancy of th e one who would be a bene-
r
for its site is merely a strip of sand beach

factor to his home community. adjacent to the waters of the Pacific. Prior
Thus it is that in the State of California to tire beginning of the project, it was desti-
a miniature Venice is in process of creation. tute of tree or shrub. It is about twenty
Although the work of the designer and miles from Los Angeles and situated in the
builder has progressed so far that a very vicinity of several beach resorts which are
truthful facsimile of parts of the city by so familiar on the Atlantic as well as the
the Adriatic can be seen by the visitor to Pacific coast rows of monotonous wooden
the site of the American model. A few years cottages and bungalows for residences, the
ago Mr. Abner Kinney in a tour of Europe business thoroughfares lined with ugly frame
saw St. Marks and the Campanile, wan- shops, and hotels and "summer" boarding
dered through the Palace of the Doges, houses which are merely huge wooden boxes
glided along the Grand Canal past those designed to hold as many human beings as
wonderful examples of the architecture can be crowded into a given space, regard-
348
less of harmony, taste or anything that there are colonnades. The decorations
savors of the aesthetic. the exterior walls include carvings of figui
Consequently Venice stands out in con- familiar to all who have visited the Italiai
spicuous contrast to its neighbors, for the city, nor are the various buildings out
architects as far as possible have outlined proportion. No "skyscrapers" have beer
structures which, while suitable for the built, nor is any structure allowed to ex-
various purposes intended, are in keeping ceed a certain height. The material anc
with the Venetian idea. In a few instances exterior finish also lend themselves to
it has been impossible to conform to this general scheme. The one essential in whic
idea, as for instance in the bathing pavilion, the "business part" of the new Venice dif-
which is of more modern design and neces- fers from its prototype is in the absence
sitated construction suitable for the pur- the canal, but the arrangement of sue
AN AMERICAN VENICE THE MAIN BUSINESS THOROUGHFARE.

pose intended. But as the photographs ac- waterways was impossible owing to the
companying this article plainly show, the character of the site and the material of the
impression produced as one traverses the various buildings.
principal thoroughfares is distinctly Vene- Three thoroughfares are devoted to the I
tian. On every side are evidences of the business interests of the town. Each has a
Renaissance. Even the smaller details have width of about one hundred feet exclusive of
been faithfully reproduced. The footways the loggias, forming the ways for pedes-
for pedestrians are through loggias mas- trians. The streets terminate upon the
sively yet gracefully built, forming not only ocean front and extend backward to a
a protection from the weather, but adding lagoon into which the principal canals con-
greatly to the general effect. Here and verge. As the photographs show, the ma-
NOTES AND COMMENTS. 349
terials used in the larger structures are of into sleeping apartments, a restaurant, a
such a character that they may be con- kitchen, office and all of the appointments
sidered permanent. The more important of the m -aern hotel. Some of the titles
buildings have a framework of steel, con- familiar to the visitor in European Venice
crete or reinforced concrete. The exterior have been utilized in its American imitation.
walls include not only brick and natural The canal system at present is about four
stone but concrete as well, while the interior miles in length and embraces a series of
fir.ish in many instances is of hardwood of waterways upon which dwellings are being
a design appropriate to the general archi- erected. Small steamboats as well as gon-
tecture. In short, the designers of Venice dolas have been provided for transportation
are building a city intended for all seasons on the canals, being utilized for communi-
of the year. It Is neither a summer nor a cation between the various parts of the
AN AMERICAN VENICE A TYPICAL BUSINESS STRUCTURE.

winter resort, but intended to be occupied town as is the ordinary street railway sys-
permanently. tem in other communities. The lagoon,
In the plans, provision has been made not which is nearly circular in form, is intended
merely for stores and dwellings, but for as a pleasure resort, while it enhances the
structures especially suitable for banking, civic beauty of the place. It is approached
for apartments, offices and for hotels. from the business part of the town by a
Among the hotels one of extremely novel
is series of broad steps and is spanned by con-
design, as it is afloat. The founder of crete bridges patterned to a certain extent
Venice conceived the idea of having a gal- after some of those seen in the older Ven-
leon mod'eled after the craft In which ice. The canals have been excavated by
Balboa supposed to have discovered the
is large suction dredges and are filled with
Pacific. This has been moored to a pier ex- salt water. Including the lagoon, the
tending out into the ocean and is divided waterways have enough current to prevent
8
350
the water from becoming stagnant and a book there is a "study for the improvement
secured by pipe lines from the of the Schuylkill River embankment," pre-
supply is
ocean, which is a few feet below the site of pared by C. C. Zantzinger, C. L. Borie, Jr.,
the town. and Paul P. Cret. If the latter seems an
The plans for Venice at present cover an ambitious dream, it has better precedents
area of about two hundred acres, but as it than had the parkway which is already a
increases in population the boundaries will dream coming true; and it has less compli-
be enlarged accordingly, for provision is cated opposition to overcome. Besides, an
made also for the expansion of the business improvement here is a favorite project of
becomes necessary. The archi- the secretary of the City Parks Associa-
portion as
tects for this interesting community were tion Andrew Wright Crawford and he
Messrs. Marsh and Russell, who not only has a remarkable way of bringing to pass
the results he desires for tne good of Phila-
delphia. The report is profusely illustrated.
mainly with photographs taken by Mr.
Crawford, and these present strong argu-
ments to persons who lack the patience or
the time to read of the opportunities of
But the text is interesting, too.
their city.
The City Parks Association is in business
for parks, not for politics; and the report
declares almost at the beginning that it is
the association's policy to eschew the lat-
ter though, it says, "the city in which its
citizens take pride, not -because they leel
that they ought to, but because it is really
beautiful and they cannot help being pr.md
of it, is apt to be the best governed city."
Philadelphia has rare park opportunities,
tha report adds; but they are of no value
if suffered to go to waste. "It is time to
stop shouting and get to work," and the as-
sociation adopts this excellent motto: "Agi-
tate, educate, but do not exasperate." The
report notes several great successes and one
great failure for the two years. The former
are the preservation, by ordinance, from
An American Venice Looking Down One of the
building of six and a half miles of the val-
Loggias. ley of Pennypack Creek, and of four miles
designed the buildings but conceived the of the east side of the vall-ey of Cobb's
scheme of waterways which has been de- Creek; the placing upon the city plan of a
scribed. plaza covering four squares around the in-
DAY ALLEN WILLEY. tersection of Broad and Johnson Streets, the
creation therefrom of a system of radiating
The City Parks Associa- streets, 'and the widening of Broad Street
tion of Philadelphia has to 300 feet from the plaza to League Island
CITY PARKS issued another report. It Park, and the beginning of the construction
ASSOCIATION contains tho seventeenth of the Torresdale and the Fairmount Park
PHILA- and eighteenth annual re- parkways. The failure was the loss of
ports c o m b i n i n g the Sherwood Forest, the magnificent trees of
DELPHIA which were
years 1905 and 1906, and felled despite 'earnest efforts
the many who have learn- to create a and dreary field for build-
flat
ed to expect of these publications the ing operations. The recommendations of
models of their kind are glad to welcome the association are a loan of seven millions,
another one, and to find their expectation to be apportioned as follows: $3,000,000 for
once more justified. Folded into the front an outer park system, $1,000,000 for recre-
of the book there is an interesting plan of ation centres, $2,000,000 for the extension of
the parkway, from Logan Square to Fair- Fairmount Parkway, and $1,000,000 for the
mount Park; and folded into the back of the beginning of an improvement of the Schuyl-
NOTES AND COMMENTS. 351
AN AMERICAN VENICE THE UNIQUE CARAVEL RESTAURANT.

kill River front; -also a loan of $2,000,000 not one of the committee having the matter
for a library site on the parkway; and finally directly in charge, the late James E. Scripps
the creation of a City Improvement Com- was deeply interested in the procurement of
mission and of a Municipal Art Commis- these reports. On invitation of the commit-
sion a step in favor of which the Fair- tee he accompanied the investigators on
mount Park Art Association lately took some of their rounds, and in honor of Mr.
action. The report also notes a number of Robinson he threw open his house for an
lesser undertakings, various gifts and the evening reception. His death occurred a
vigorous growth of the association. few weeks ago, and it is found that his will
includes a bequest of $50,000 for a public
About two years ago, in improvement m the city of Detroit. The
reflection of a consider- nature of this improvement is left to the
able public interest, the judgment of the three trustees of his estate:
DETROIT'S
Board of Commerce of the and there has inevitably risen the hope that
OPPORTUNITY city of Detroit engaged they may choose the river esplanade, of whic'h
two students of municipal he was an earnest advocate. In favor of
aesthetics -to make reports this, as against any other improvement,
on the improvement possi- authoritative decisions have already been
bilities of Detroit. The investigations were rendered; the utility, practicability and even
independently made and the reports sepa- the manner of the improvement has been in-
rately submitted; but they were
when dicated, and it is obvious that this would
handed in it was found that both Messrs. be a development of Detroit's most distinc-
Olmsted and Robinson who were the men tive claim to attention, the utilization of the
employed had laid their special stress on noblest asset of the city. Indeed, as com-
the improvement of the waterfront. This pared with this it is difficult to sp-eak with
was not surprising, but as an argument it patience of the two other projects that have
was convincing, and the Board published the been brought forward, viz.: the erection of
two reports together in a pamphlet. Though a memorial to Mr. Scripps in a park that
352
he gave, or the erection of a convention hall. An article several col-

The one is always a dangerous experiment AS umns in length, in in-
a good park not being a cemetery and in teresting review of civic
this case seeming to give to the bequest a
TOLD art developments in the
mean and wholly unjust quality of self- IN United States, is going
assertiveness; and the other would be a GE.RMANY tne rounds of prominent
miserly use of a free and princely gift. But newspapers in Germany,
no doubt the decision can be safely left to having oeen published in
the three trustees. The bequest illustrates Cologne, Strasburg and elsewhere. The
one of the advantages, by the way, of se- writer starts out by quoting a statement
curing, even before there appears to be a that the low estate of civic art in the
chance to do things, a report on the right United States is a reflection of the repub-
things to do. lican form of government throughout the
world, apparently forgetting the mediaeval
The plans for the great republics of Italy. But he says that how-
addition to the Auditorium ever true this may once have been, it now
THE Annexin Chicago which should be recognized that "in the last fifteen
on completion will be re- years there has been a very remarkable
MODERN christened, with the Audi- civic art awakening and increase in general
HOTEL torium, "Congress Hotel culture in the United States." Finding the
and Annex" provide a first impetus for the civic part of this in
the ideal created by the beauty of the
hostelry with 2,000 rooms,
and representative of an outlay of about World's Fair at Chicago, he traces with
This is doing things is real fair accuracy the spread and growth of the
$14,000,000.
Chicagoese style. Tire addition is to be sentiment throughout the country. The
similar to the present structures a huge, article quotes freely from the principal
many-windowed box, massive at the base, American books on the subject, describes by
but, in the addition, weakened above by name the national and the more prominent
seried ranks of bay windows. It will be, of the local societies organized to promote
that is to say, neither particularly credit- town and and on the whole
city betterment,
able nor impressive in itself; while yet mak- gives to the foreigner an interesting and just
ing a very remarkable and vital part of the account of a movement that really has
lakefront development, which promises in a reached such proportions as to make it
few years more to be one of the fine civic world notable. The identity of the author
achievements of the country. And there is is not revealed; but it is a comfort to know
this to be said for the 'hotel: In its fourteen that at last Europe, long surfeited with ac-
stories and its long fagade, it will set up a counts of the ugliness of our cities, is get-
wall that, as far as it goes, will screen in ting a truer picture of the actual present
orderly, dignified fashion the vast ugly city conditions and as the writer sums it up it
behind. Thanks to the angle of vision, is a very creditable record.

hardly a skyscraper will show behind it, and
we shall have, what is seldom 'had in Ameri-
can towns, a waterfront beautiful in fore- Pages 190 and 217 of the September issue
contain errors for which we wish to express
ground and harmonious and comparatively
regret to all parties concerned, and which
restrained at back. As to the hotel's in-
we correct herewith. The title to the illus-
terior, the present features the classic cor-
tration on page 190 reads, Mr. F. W. Van-
ridor of white marble and the Pompeiian
derbilt's House, Hyde Park, N. Y., while the
room are to be retained, with extensions;
illustration shows the Marble House at New-
while cosmopolitanism is to have its cus-
port, R. 1., by the late R. M. Hunt. On
tomary emphasis in a Louis Quatorze ban- pag-e 217 is shown the Rockefeller Institute
quet hall, a Japanese tea room, and an for Medical Research, COth St. and East
Elizabethan lounging room. It is no mere New York
River, City, of which Shepley,
figure of speech that the modern hotel is a Rutan & Coolidge, of Boston, Mass., were
world in itself! The thought of a home and the architects. The title to this illustration,
a haven has been forgotten, and we travel as well as the architects' names, were in-
most furiously while we pause.
correctly given.

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VOL. XX. No. 4. OCTOBER, 1906 WHOLE No. 97.

An Orchard Garden Illustrated. . 269

Some Houses by Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey 281

An Architect of Bungalows in California Illus. 306

The House and Garden of Mr. F. C. Culver 335

Colonial Architecture in the West Illustrated. 341

Notes and Comments 347

C. W. SWEET, Publisher R.W. REINHOLD, Business Mgr.

Subscription (Yearly), $3.00 Published Monthly

OFFICE OF PUBLICATION: Nos. 14 and 16 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK CITY,

significance of a suburban villa site. It brought to realize that the architectural

cept those connected with a large farm ;

planned will become larger and older bordered as it was

THE LIBRARY REV. MR. JOSEPH HUTCHESON'S HOUSE.

THE DINING ROOM REV. MR. JOSEPH HUTCHESON'S HOUSE.

ated to its service in a comprehensive The highest charm a matter of beauty

scheme, the result must necessarily be and style, as well as

THE STAIRCASE REV. JOSEPH HUTCHESOX'S

Some Houses by Myron Hunt and

RESIDENCE AND GARDEN FOR MR. R. R. BLACKER.

RESIDENCE AND GARDEN FOR MR. H. M. GORHAM.

THE COCHRAN HOUSE.

THE STAIRCASE HALL IN THE COCHRAN HOUSE.

286 lHE ARCHITECTURAL RECORD.

THE COCHRAN HOUSE.

ground immediately adjoining their this attempt carried to an extreme. They

THE HOTEL MARYLAND.

have rarely seen, for instance, a shingled surfaces.

better than the Spier house, at Pasadena. garden attached to the as

priate and interesting. But the garden

tage. The garden attached to Mr. Hunt's

Pasadena, Gal. THE GARDEN SIDE MR. MYRON HUNT'S HOUSE.

THE McKEE HOUSE.

THE McKEE HOUSE.

THE McKEE HOUSE.

THE HOUSE OP MR. FRANK UNDERBILL.

entirely as a mass of foliage, in relation in other respects his house is an admir-

MAIN ENTRANCE, MRS. A. TICHENOR'S HOUSE.

An Architect of Bungalows in California.

GUEST ROOM, MRS. A. TICHENOR'S HOUSE.

DINING-ROOM, MRS. A. TICHENOR'S HOUSE.

MR. C. W. HOLLISTER'S HOUSE.

an attractive but inexpensive residence, quently, no matter whether it is shingled

ly ^both as amatter of design and as a cause it will combine a considerable area

THE HOUSE OP JUDGE WILLETT.

ally such cheap little buildings that no extraordinarily successful in adapting

Greene & Greene, Architects.

suburban houses, at best unobjectionable straining after picturesque and episodic

DR. A. A. LIBBY'S HOUSE.

MRS. JENNIE A. REEVE'S HOUSE.

signers. treats the walls as simply as he does

a large living ball, with a staircase

there arelarge and beautiful gardens issues, as were, to better advantage

FIG. 1. MRS. WATERMAN'S HOUSE AT PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

projecting towers carried up in bold here we have a foundation of perfectly

FIG. 3. A DETAIL OF THE PORCH SHOWN IN FIGS. 1 AND 2.

MRS. WATERMAN'S HOUSE AT PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

which is carried around