THE GRANT TO PRIVATE

BUILDERS.

TH

HE Grant to Private Builders is intended primarily grant permits of the construction of a distinctive and

to facilitate the erection of the smaller type of pleasing residence.

house. Suitable designs for this type will be The following designs illustrate a bungalow and found in the booklet, “Type Plans and Elevations of various two-storey houses erected in different parts of Houses designed by the Ministry of Health in connection

the country, all of which are eligible to receive the with State-aided Housing Schemes," obtainable through maximum grant of £260. These plans need not be the Stationery Office, and in the plans which have rigorously adhered to, but they may offer ideas to

the would-be builder of the largest type of house already appeared from time to time in HOUSING.

eligible for the Grant. As each will no doubt desire to At the same time, the maximum amount of floor have special ideas of his own incorporated, the designs space-1,400 square feet-of a house eligible for the may offer scope for personal and distinctive adaptation.

BUNGALOW TYPE.

The difficulties of finding house accommodation in The increase in the amount of the free grant offered and about Birmingham are by no means confined by the Government to the private house-builder gave to the working classes ; they have been severely them an opportunity at once of securing houses for felt by, among others, the Housing Commissioner's staff themselves, and of giving a practical demonstration of

for that region. Many members of that staff, recruited what it is possible to achieve with the aid of this grant. from other parts of the country, have been compelled to The first step was the preparation of suitable plans, seek accommodation in boarding houses or furnished and, after due consideration, it was decided that the houses, at very high rentals.

bungalow type, in view of its low cost, convenience and

• WEST ELEVATION •

• EAST ELEVATION :

• SOUTH ELEVATION

• NORTH ELEVATION •

Inapolion Eye

LOUNGE
HALL

BED ROOM

Scale of feel

• GROUND PLAN

ELEVATIONS AND GROUND PLAN OF THE BUNGALOW.

even

attractive appearance, was the most suitable for the giving a height of 11 ft. The dining-room is connected purpose.

by a convenient serving passage with the kitchen. The term bungalow generally conveys the idea of a The kitchen is divided into two, one portion forming timber frame building, covered with weather board and

a comfortable sitting-room for the domestic help, while roofed with felt, making a draughty and generally the other is the working kitchen proper. In the former, uncomfortable house of a temporary nature. This is convenient to the dining-room, is a dresser with drawers

a quite a mistaken idea. Bungalows, if properly con

for plate and silver, and glass-fronted cupboards for structed and planned, are more comfortable, china and glass. convenient and easily worked than the orthodox twostorey house. The plan reproduced represents a house devices, the room being fitted with a gas-cooker, sink with

Free use is made in the main kitchen of labour-saving which is at once attractive and comfortable, as the

two draining boards and cupboards under, storedetailed description following will show.

cupboards, etc., and an independent slow combustion Sites have been selected for the erection of these boiler supplying constant hot water to the sink, the bungalows, and estimates secured, and after negotiations bathroom, the lavatory, and a radiator in the lounge hall. by the Chief Architect of the Region, Mr. D. G. Tanner, a

A larder fitted with slate shelves opens out of the kitchen. contract was entered into with Messrs. A. Francis & Co., of Birmingham, at the rate of £940 each, plus the

The bedrooms are grouped at one end of the house, Government subsidy. This sum includes installation of measuring 16 ft. 6 in. by 12 ft. 6 in., 12 ft. 6 in. by gas and water, connecting drains to the main sewer,

10 ft. 9 in., 11 ft. by 9 ft., and 9 ft. 9 in. by 7 ft. 3 in., all making paths, and finishing the house ready for being 8 ft. 8 in. high. The bathroom contains a 5 ft. 6 in. occupation.

bath, 20 in. lavatory basin and w.c., and the hot water Each bungalow is to be built on about a quarter of an

from the boiler heats a towel rail in the bathroom and a acre of ground, the method of construction consisting linen cupboard just outside it. of an external 41 in. brick wall separated by a 1} in.

Accommodation for storage can be obtained in the cavity from the internal facing of 3 in. breeze blocks. roof, with a head-room of about 6 ft. 3 in., and a dormer Both bricks and blocks are set in cement, and the whole window gives light to this roof-space. of the internal walls and ceilings plastered in the orthodox

Only one chimney-stack is provided, serving the open way. The plinth and chimney are of brindled bricks, fireplace in the lounge-hall and the independent boiler. the upper part of the walls being rough cast, and the The remainder of the house is heated by gas-fires, the roof tiled.

necessary air being introduced direct from outside the A wide porch leads into the lounge hall, which is a building, and the products of combustion carried off in prominent feature of the design. It is 17 ft. 6 in, in special 9 in. by 3 in. flues, concealed in the cavity of the length by 12 ft. 6 in. in width, and 16 ft. high, and it is wall and terminating under the eaves in special treated in the Jacobean style, with oak king-posts, ventilators made by Messrs. Thomas Ash & Co. The stone fireplace and "minstrels' gallery." Leading out result is both to reduce the cost of building and to of the lounge is the dining-room, measuring 16 ft. 6 in. increase the attractiveness of the elevation, which is (inclusive of bay) by 12 ft. 6 in. The ceiling is barrelled, pleasing without useless and meaningless ornament.

a

a

TWO-STOREY TYPE.-A.

E

LEVATIONS and plans are shown on the opposite bedrooms are all given an outlook to the garden on the

page of a house conforming to the requirements south side.

of the Ministry of Health in order to be available for the Government Grant, but somewhat more distinctive ground floor is solid throughout, the floors of the hall and

All windows and doors are of painted wood, and the in appearance and arrangement than those provided for dining room being in 9 in. red quarry tiles, of the drawing in the usual housing scheme.

room and kitchen in solid wood, and of the pantry and This house provides a floor space of 1,396 ft. super, offices granolithic. and the cost, on a basis of ls. 9d. per ft. cube, is about

An example of the thought and care displayed in £1,550. The specification provides for the use of 9 in.

planning is shown in the fact that the kitchen is combrick walls, chimney and plinth, the walls being rough pletely cut off from the rest of the house, and is only cast. The roof is of timber, covered with pantiles or

approached through the pantry, so that noise and smell bridgewater tiles.

from this source are allowed to penetrate the house as The house is designed for a northerly aspect, and the little as possible. dining room, living room, kitchen and three main

T. A. L.