HOUSING: VOLUME I The appearance of this large volume of
436 pages, prepared by the Building Centre Committee and priced at 3os., realises the first half of a praiseworthy ambition to show in a representative and unbiassed way what has been done by the principal countries of Europe since the War to provide " decent living accommodation for those who cannot, without assistance, obtain it at rents within their means." The countries here covered are England, France, Holland, Sweden, Denmark and Spain. The scheme of arrangement is altogether admirable. The letterpress, which is condensed to a minimum, deals through- out with matters of fact and not of opinion: It gives almost all the informa- tion that could be wanted by the general student on matters topographical, legis- lative, sociological, economic and tech- nical—the whole so tabulated and arranged as to simplify reference and comparison to the utmost (metrical equivalents are given throughout). Costs of construction only are omitted, since any true comparison of these in different countries is impracticable. Every map is drawn to one of the four standard scales (for District, Group, Block and Dwelling respectively), and excellent photographs give a sufficient idea of general appearance. All the schemes here described have been visited by the Building Centre Committee except those in Barcelona. No more scientific collec- tion of data on the subject has yet been published in any country ; and it is by no means too much to say that the Building Centre have put all those interested in housing, of whatever nationality, in their debt by this public- spirited enterprise.
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