The Modern Home
The Bond Street Building Centre
FEW of us are so fortunately placed as to be thinking of building a house at the present time—I say fortunately, because never
before has it been possible to obtain at any price a dwelling comparable, so far as luxury and convenience are concerned, with the sort of house that can now be built for an absurdly low figure. But though the completely modern home must remain, for most of us, a dream unlikely to come true in the near future, we are continually making small alterations and additions to our existing houses, bringing them little by little and so far as is possible (which is really a considerable way) into keeping with our ideas of the real thing. One year it may be the installation of radiant heating in that large room which was so expensively and unsatisfactorily warmed by an older method ; next, the provision of some more permanent and attractive wall-covering than paper for a bathroom, a really hygienic composition floor-covering for scullery or larder, or a new and efficient cooker to replace the old voracious kitchen- range ; a water-softener or refrigerator may be judged likely to save more than it will cost—whatever it may be, there is generally something under consideration. And for any of these things a visit to 158 Bond Street is likely to be worth while.
The Building Centre opened to the general public some three weeks ago. It will remain open as a permanent but constantly changing exhibition of the best and newest materials and fittings for the modern home. Its advent is symptomatic of the wider and more intelligent interest that is being taken in the subject. The average householder is no longer content to follow the advice of the local plumber whose motto is, " What was good enough for my father is good enough for me," and who views every new product with feelings that could only euphemistically be described as suspicious. The fact is that each year sees the introduction of so many new materials, preparations and processes that even the architect, whose job it is to follow such things, finds himself unable to keep pace with them. Both architect and builder are naturally chary of using anything in which they have not complete confidence ; the architect hesitates before specifying a novelty of whose Continued behaviour he has not had personal experience ; the builder dislikes hazarding a reputation for good workmanship on the chances of a new material " letting him down " or not. Also, it is to be feared, he sometimes shirks the mental effort needed to familiarize himself and his men with anything new. For all these reasons the general public is apt to be deprived of the use of many desirable things until they have been available for many years, while the manufacturer finds difficulty in fostering his sales, and talks bitterly of the lack of enterprise in the building trade.
All parties should find themselves well served by the Building Centre. The manufacturers can exhibit their wares ; the architect can go, with or without a client, and inspect them under one roof—and that in the heart of London ; lastly (and this should be of interest to readers of this page), the layman can stroll in at any time between 9.30 and 7.0 and look about him. There is no charge for admission and he will not be troubled by salesmen—for the reason that there are none there. Anything that interests him will be explained fully by a technical expert ; its price will be given and the name of the makers or suppliers. He will be able to compare it with other things of the same kind, and decide then and there, without going from showroom to showroom, which he prefers.
The general standard of the exhibits now displayed is pleasantly high. To anyone depressed by memories of most " Home" exhibitions a visit to the Building Centre may be recommended as a welcome pick-me-up. It is perhaps not unduly cynical to suggest that a considerable amount of tact must have been exercised by somebody to achieve so reason- able and wholesome a selection. Most of the exhibits are definitely modern, but there is a splendid absence of the freakishly modernistic. Only some of the light-fittings and floor-coverings err in this respect. Much of the Entrance Floor is given up to a selection of bathrooms. It is, perhaps, rather a temptation to a manufacturer to show only his more luxu- rious products, but at some time in the future I should like to see a few equally efficient but cheaper bathroom appointments. Yet even in rooms of the class shown the taps are mostly set at the foot of the bath—the most awkward place possible from the occupant's point of view. In many cases, too, the pursuit of modernism at all costs has resulted in angular, faceted taps, awkward and uncomfortable to grip.
More sanitary ware is to be seen on the Lower Ground Floor ; and here I must specially commend what is described as a Surgeon's Basin made by H. Pontifex and Sons, Ltd. Why such a good-looking and efficient thing should be reserved for surgeons it is hard to say—unless 'it be because of its un- orthodox shape. Almost a perfect oval in plan, it is supported on wall-brackets, but is clear of the wall by several inches. By this means there are no angles, inside or outside, to be dealt with : every part of it can be cleaned with ease. Down- stairs also are specimens of all sorts of kitchen, laundry and heating appliances. All through the building at various points are glass panels through which the actual wiring of the building can be viewed. The various systems of electrical wiring can be examined in greater detail and their merits compared in a room on the Entrance Floor, which should interest those who are about to instal electric light as a result of the " grid " scheme. The gas-fires on the same floor are mostly poor in design. Only in the case of the " Panella " has the designer realized that a gas-fire has s little in common with a solid fuel grate. In some cases imitation cinder boxes are still provided. We want some clear thinking in this depart- ment of the home.
The walls of the stairs show what delightful effects can be obtained by the application of plywood. In this case it is simply cut into squares of uniform size, perhaps fourteen inches across, the edges mitred (with no attempt to hide the ply construction) and fixed with pins. This is perhaps the cheapest way of panelling, yet nothing could look better. In some places metal-surfaced " Plymax " has been used to show the possibilities of aluminium, copper or stainless steel. Those whose interest was aroused by the recent correspondence about Empire Timbers in The Times can satisfy themselves to the full on the First Floor. Here are several excellent displays of timber, so arranged that the visitor can handle the samples and examine the grain and texture of some dozens of varieties, both polished and unpolished. Another fascinating section is that in which the glass manufacturers show very full ranges of their wares. These, too, can be handled. Pressed and obscured glass of many kinds can be seen, and mirrors tinted in shades to make the most full-blooded blanch or the anaemic glow with health. Glass is one of the loveliest things made by man, and these exhibits should help it to a wider use in the home.
Tiles, both roof and wall, are present in almost infinite variety, 'awl bricks of many textures and colours. These last are shown actually built up into miniature walls which give a much better idea of the finished result than does an odd brick or so. Windows are perhaps less well displayed than any other class of exhibit ; no doubt as experience is gained, some better arrangement will be found. The necessarily limited selection of textiles must have presented almost insuperable difficulties. I noticed some admirable Allan Walton hangings—but it would perhaps have been wiser to confine this section to fabrics specially made to serve as permanent wall-coverings. One such, " Neatolin," struck me as one of the most attractive I had seen, whether hanging free as curtains or stuck to the Wall with adhesive.
The Building Centre has set itself an astonishingly high standard. On its present showing it is the best exhibition of the kind London has yet seen.
G. M. BOUMPIIREY.
[Enquiries arising out of articles on " The Modern Home" should be addressed to the Editor of theSPECTATOR, 99 Gower Street, W.C. 1, and marked " MoHome" in the top left- hand corner.]
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