BUNGALOPHOBIA
[To the Editor of the SeEcrsTon.] Sin,—Mr. Stanley Casson's rrtiele in your issue of September lath probably expresses the opinion of many people who appreciate the joys of a summer bungalow by the seaside. It is interesting, therefore, to note that his sound views on the desirability of using local materials have not been put into practice in the case of the bungalow which he owns on the Cornish coast. This particular building, according to his des- cription, is constructed of wood with a roof of "large red tiles." It is not clear whether these tiles are of clay or asbestos, but in either case the materials mentioned have been used in a region where some of the finest slate in the world is quarried, where stone and granite are plentiful, and where timber is scarce.
Few architects object to the bungalow type of dwelling pro- vided it is well designed, but it lends itself more readily to a flimsy kind of construction, and hence is erected cheaply by the speculative builder, who easily finds a purchaser and so is not concerned with the cost of upkeep. Experience of building with permanent materials proves that the two-storey dwelling is rather more economical than the bungalow. Also every property owner knows that the cost of upkeep is an essential part of the economic factor in building, and it is futile to argue that initial cost is all that matters. It is unlikely, therefore, that the present enthusiasm for the cheap bungalow will stand the test of time.
From the aesthetic point of view the colour and material of the roof of a low building is a most conspicuous element in the design. Having recently made an exhaustive survey of the Cornish Coast for the Council for the Preservation of Rural England, I am convinced that the major disfigurements of that beautiful region are due to buildings out of harmony with their surroundings and the Cornish ' tradition—irrespective of whether such buildings are of one or more storeys. Bright red tiles (especially the pink asbestos variety) on the Cornish coast conflict with the admirable grey-green local slates that harmonize so well with the low colour tones of the western landscape.
If the bungalow is to become part of the English landscape, there is no reason why it should not be as seemly in appearance as the one-storey cottages that have survived from previous centuries, and whether of temporary or permanent materials, it will not offend the community if it retains its simplest form, stripped of all those meaningless " embellishments" frequently used by the speculative builder.
The grouping and siting of such buildings is, however, another matter Which is boUnd up with town planning ; this is just as important as the use of suitable materials ; indeed, the lack of town planning foresight lies at the rout of the recent public resentment against the so-called " Bungalophobia." One wonders whether Mr. Casson's summer retreat will retain his affections when a few hundred other people have built bungalows in close proximity to and in competition with his
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