A New Aspect of Florence [Travel is nal simply for
pleasure or leisure. Lady Walston, the writer of this article, has availed herself of the Opportunity to make a special study of up4o-dote housing conditionS in Florence. Readers ?f the SPECTATOR will be interested to see how this most urgent problem of housing 4 being tackled abroad.—Ed. SPECTATOR.] WHILE in Florence recently I had the privilege of being shown over some of the new dwellings which are being erected on the left bank of the Arno, in the Western outskirts of the town. The quarter is just begin- ning to be developed. Therefore, there is no question of slum-clearance, nor any necessity for finding alternative accommodation for tenants during the moving process. Three different types of flats are being erected : (1) In the Via Bronzino for workmen whose daily earnings average about 20 lire, i.e., artisans and the like ; (2) in the Via Pisano for a better class Of tenant; ; and (8) nearby in the same locality, homes for the very poorest people.
From the exterior all three- types ' of flats present similar features. They are built of stone, faced. with plaster, and coloured, as most Italian buildings are ; none are more than four stories high, and the windows are large and protected from the sun by wooden shutters. They are simple in design and less pretentious than buildings of the same class now being erected in Holland or Germany. They are built around gardens or courts, have open stone stairs leading to the flats, and well- designed iron banisters.
In the Via Bronzino 212 flats have been constructed, consisting of 720 rooms. The cost of building works out at about. 9,700 lire per room. These flats vary in size from four to two rooms, not including the kitchen. The rooms are spacious and airy. The kitchens are especially well planned and there is a balcony outside each window. Every flat has its own lavatory with a washbasin and running water. Communal shower baths are provided in a separate building. All floors are tiled, the walls are whitewashed and electric lighting is installed throughout.
The rent asked for each room is 250 lire per year and payments are made monthly. The tenants almost invariably pay promptly and I was told they would prefer stinting themselves with their food than fall behind with the rent. In this block of flats those on the ground floor have their own little gardens, in which an ample supply of vegetables had been planted, but in which flowers seemed conspicuous by their absence.
The apartments in the Via Pisano, which are meant for a superior class of workmen, are outwardly not very different from those in the Via Bronzino.. The rents vary in price from 850 lire per year per room on the first floor to 800 lire on the third floor and somewhat less on the fourth. In a few of the blocks the flats are sold to tenants who pay one-fifth of the price on taking possession and the rest within 20 years.
In the flats intended for the poorest classes, the rooms are only 180 lire per year and cost about 9,000 lire or less to build. Water is included in the rent, but electric light is additional.
An interesting feature is the use made of the basements, which have been so arranged that tenants who wish to carry on their trade can do so by renting, at a nominal sum, a pleasant and well-lit room as a workshop.
Aniongst other amenities provided for the tenants are communal shops in which provisions and other neces- sities may be bought at controlled prices, while bathi with hot and cold water showers are provided and wash- houses with concrete tubs and every facility for the women to dry their clothes are also installed.
All drinking water comes from specially constructed wells and is carefully filtered and the drainage system throughout is thoroughly up to. date.
In addition to these amenities, an infant school has also been started for children under -five. It was delightful to watch the alert and bright little faces of the boys and girls busily engaged weaving mats, drawing, sewing, or doing physical exercises, under the guidance of an enthusiastic young woman. r asked her whether the Montessori system was much practised in her country and was interested to hear that owing to expense and other reasons it was hardly used at all, but that the Froebel system had been -reinstated. When we left, they gave us the 'Fascist salute. The rooms in which the children study and exercise are large, airy, and well ventilated, and the cloak room and washing installations are also admirably planned, while a sanitary and practical arrangement for the supply of drinking water consists of a spout or geyser to which the child puts. its mouth, thereby obviating the need of a glass or cup.
The Instituto per le Case Popolare di Firenze is constructing these buildings in conjunction with and under the Ministries of National Economy and Public Works. One third of the capital required is contributed by the State, one third by the town (Commune), and one third is loaned by the " Cassa di Risparmio," or savings bank, at 5 per cent. interest, plus 1 per cent. for amortiza- tion. This 6 per cent. on the capital borrowed from the Cassa di Risparmio; plus maintenance and upkeep charges, is obtained from the rents charged for the flats.
The Government refrains from levying any taxes on these houses for a period of twenty-five years, and as the land on which -they have been built is on the outskirts of the city and was expropriated at a very low figure, it cost comparatively little.
Although our visit took place towards eleven o'clock in the morning and none of the tenants had been told that we were coming I was greatly impressed by the cleanliness and orderliness of the various flats we saw. All the rooms had been tidied for the day and the beds made. I noticed especially the nicely embroidered sheets and pillowcases, even in the poorest homes, and was told afterwards of the pride the Italians take in their household linen. The furniture, too, in most of the flats was well made and of good quality. _ As for the kitchens, though not so well fitted up as those of the working classes in France, they are sufficiently complete for what is actually required.
My general impression was that the home to the Italian woman meant more-than to her English sister and that in order to attain and keep it up to a certain standard, she is willing to forgo luxuries of dress and adornment of her person. The Italian woman will spend less on her clothes, but will save whatever she can to complete and embellish her home.
FLORENCE WALSTON.
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