The Prefabricated Houses
One of the " prefabricated " steel houses recently described by Mr. Churchill, soo,000 of which are to be rapidly constructed under the auspices of the Ministry of Works for the families of soldiers and bombed-out persons, is now on view in the grounds of the Tate Gal:cry. It will be mass-produced and quickly assembled, and is intended to tide over the time till more permanent dwellings can be constructed by the building industry. It is certainly a marvel of compactness and labour-saving contrivance, and at every point the interest of the housewife has been studied. Passages have been avoided ; cupboards btlilt in ; and cooker, sink, refrigerator and cupboards have been provided in the kitchen, and clothes washing boiler and hand washing bowl in the bathroom. The heating arrangements and hot-water system are ingeniously contrived, and, in genera', space is economised to the utmost in what must, after all, be a small bungalow. The shed is small, and scarcely provides for all that a householder with a garden will want to put in it. So far as the interior is concerned, certain principles have been observed which should be borne in mind in all future house-building. As for the exterior, certain obvious difficulties occur which will require much attention. One of these bungalows, with a small garden round it may be, if lacking beauty, at least well enough. But a hundred of them together present disturbing prospects. The lay-out of an estate or new village in which these dwellings are to be constructed will require all the skill in planning which a good architect can muster. A group of them badly arranged would be extremely un- sightly. This is not a reflection on the achievement of the Ministry of Works, but a point that mutt not be overlooked.
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