Types of Plans

Types of Plans. The plans throughout the book have been selected as showing various types of houses, but each building should be designed with reference to the exigencies of site and surroundings and the personal idiosyncrasies of the owner. The following plans, however, may show some of the principles which should guide us in certain cases.

Picture 10 shows a detached house for a narrow suburban site, with three rooms connecting.

Picture 10, A Suburban House.

It indicates an attempt to give the hall a more inviting character by making it square in shape and by the addition of a fireplace. The lavatories are cut off from the houses as much as possible, and are shown in connection with the front entrance.

Pictures 11 and 12 are the ground and first floor plans of a pair of semi-detached houses. On the ground floor a square hall with fireplace is given, and the service from kitchen to dining room is so arranged that the smell from the cooking is intercepted by the scullery.

A semi-detached house.

Picture 13 is a ground plan of a small inexpensive bungalow containing two reception rooms (i.e. dining-and living room). In this type there are no passages, and the stairs are screened off from the hall The water closet is entered through the lavatory, and has in addition a ventilating lobby. The kitchen quarters are fairly convenient for the front door and dining room.

Picture 13. A Bungalow.

Picture 14 is the plan of an entrance unusual shape of the living room is necessitated, because a look-out window commanding the main road and private drive is required. Bedrooms are placed over the carriage-drive entrance.

An Entrance Lodge.

Picture 15 is the ground-floor plan of a doctor's house.

Picture 15. A Doctors House.

There is a large square hall with fireplace, lit from windows high up in the pantry wall. The consulting room (library) surgery and waiting room are self-contained and yet in communication with the house. The surgery entrance is in connection with the waiting room, as are also the lavatories. The library is in touch with the front door.

The pantry acts as a ventilating lobby between the dining room and kitchen.

Picture 16 represents a pair of workmen's cottages or two houses of a terrace of small dwellings. A large living room and scullery are provided, in connection with which is a bathroom.

Picture 16. Workmen's Cottages.

A bathroom used to be seldom found in a workman's cottage, but it is perhaps more necessary in this class of dwelling than in any other, owing to the nature of the work carried on by the artisan. The bath, being close to the scullery, can be readily supplied with hot water, and the room becomes, in fact, a lavatory and bathroom combined.

Pictures 17 and 18 are the ground and second-floor plans of a town house, the first floor being omitted, because it is given up to the reception rooms, which need no explanation.

Pictures 17, A Town House.

The ground floor has a good outer and inner hall with fireplace. The stairs to basement enable the servants to get to the front door without traversing the inner hall. A vaulted passage seven feet wide leads to the dining room at the rear of the site. A small cloak room and lavatory are placed under the stairs. The serving room and service stairs are conveniently near the dining room. On the second floor are two suites of rooms, front and back, with baths and lavatories in connection therewith.

It will be noticed that only lavatories, bathrooms and water-closets are lighted from internal areas.

Picture 19 is the ground plan of a large country house, which is so planned that all the living rooms may, as far as possible, get the sun's rays at some portion of the day, and the kitchen block wards off the cold northeast winds. The dining room is easily served from the kitchen quarters and faces north for the sake of coolness.

Picture 19. A Large Country House.

A morning room leading off the drawing room is provided, and this can also be used as a breakfast room. The billiard room is in connection with the ground-floor lavatories. The conservatories and winter garden form the south-west block, and are placed so that the sun is on them during the whole of the day.

Next: Exterior House Design.