THE MODERN HOUSE
In addition to the obvious relationship between their subjects, these two books bear another similarity—each is badly titled. Rightly or wrongly, the adjective " modern," in an archi- tectural context, has come to have a particular meaning. One may deplore the fact that a term of such ephemeral significance has been so applied ; but since this is the case, the reviewer's first duty is to point out that anyone who picks up Professor Abercrombie's large and handsome volume expecting to find it an authoritative compilation of works of the Bauhaus school may be disappointed. It includes these, indeed, just as the Royal Academy includes specimens of " modern " art ; but they are in the minority. The Royal Academy is, in fact, the prototype of this book. And just as thousands of people flock to Burlington House knowing that they will find there a large array of art which it is safe and respectable to admire—since it has been carefully selected for them by a responsible com- mittee—so may readers turn to The Book of the Modern House in the sure knowledge that all the specimens of domestic architecture illustrated (and excellently illustrated) have been considered " good " by competent judges, since this was the touch-stone handed out to the fourteen con- tributors, each of whom is responsible for one section. In
this way the late Sir Guy Dawber has handled " The Country House," Mr. Oliver Hill " The Contemporary House," Mr. Clough Williams-Ellis " Coastal Houses," Mr. John Gloag " The House in America," and others " The Country Cot- tage," " The Town House," " The Suburban House," " The
Ready-Built House," " The Working Man's House," " The House in its Suburban and Country Setting," " The House in Sweden," " The Interior " and " Furniture." Not the least valuable part of this interesting survey is to be found in Professor Abercrombie's editorial foreword and the intro- ductions with which the contributors have prefaced their sections. My complaint regarding the title of The Flat Book is concerned with the adjectival noun, of course, rather than with the substantive. Why a book nineteen-twentieths of which is as applicable to houses as to flats should have been thus fettered it is difficult to imagine. But after this trivial criticism there can remain nothing but praise for an astonish- ing five-shillingsworth. The book is, in effect, a selective catalogue of almost every aspect and article of modern interior planning, furnishing and equipment, chosen by judges of rare knowledge and taste. Everything in it is well illustrated and —better still—priced, the makers' names being given and all necessary measurements. It contains, furthermore, crisp and good introductions to each section, setting out the main con- siderations involved. Common sense and an acute perception of the relevant problems of the day, with almost encyclopaedic knowledge of the best solutions yet achieved, are its distin- guishing features. This is a book which will save anyone about to furnish weeks of work and pounds of money. It should be regarded by every engaged couple as an essential preliminary to their marriage licence.
GEOFFREY BOUMPHREY.
Previous page
