Canadian Small House Competition / Concours canadien pour de petites maisons
1946
Canada- Domestic architecture
- Building
- Dwelling
THE PROBLEM
THE CLIENT
The Client, Mr. Canada, an average Canadian in his middle 30' s, has needed a house since the' end of the war. He, his wife, his daughter aged five, and a son of two years, are now living in overcrowded accommodation. They need a house immediately that will provide them with convenient and healthful living conditions in accordance with their requirements.
THE CLlENT'S PROBLEM
Mr. Canada tried to buy a house but could not find one which provided the accommodation and convenience he and his family require. He then considered building but found costs out of line with his budget. He had Victory Bonds and other savings sufficient to provide the equity to finance the construction of a house to cost approximately $6,000.00 under the National Housing Act. He has a job and a reasonable assurance of permanency. He should not, however, exceed this expenditure and is very desirous of obtaining a house compatible with his family's needs at a lesser cost. He knows of the shortage of materials and high construction costs but in view of his plight he must build immediately. Having heard of new building techniques he hopes his architect will be able to employ them to solve his problem.
THE CLlENT/S REQUIREMENTS
Mr. and Mrs. Canada have seen many houses which had small and insufficient numbers of rooms. They feel that these would not provide them with the conditions of health and convenience they are determined to have. They require all rooms as large as possible within the means of their budget. They have no preference concerning style but dislike the freakish or bizarre and picturesque. They are very interested in contemporary ideas of utility and livability and would like "built-in furniture," but do not want "gadgets." Their aim is basic accommodation so as to obtain the maximum of living space for their money. A no-basement house appeals to them if this can be provided without sacrificing accommodation, especially storage space, laundry, utility, and heating facilities; and within their "price ceiling." They do not own an automobile and the provision of a garage is optional. They want a well-lighted and healthful interior and are interested in the trend to larger glass areas. Since their budget is carefully planned, heating and maintenance costs should be at a minimum. They depend upon their architect to advise them upon the building materials and equipment to be used. They have no objection to departures from traditional materials provided their architect can assure them that the new ones he suggests will give just as good service. Mrs. Canada expects to do her own housework and supervise the children. She naturally wants the rooms planned and arranged to make her household tasks easier and more pleasant, and to allow her as much free time as possible. Mr. and Mrs. Canada have found several urban lots which might be suitable. These are located on various streets and with different orientations. All the lots that they can obtain are internal ones, 40' wide or less, generally flat with a good depth of soil; some have lanes at the rear and others have not. The usual utilities are available. They expect their architect to select and make the best use of a lot and to design the house so as to obtain the best orientation. They wish to finance the construction of the house under the terms of the National Housing Act, 1944.
THE ARCHITECT'S PROBLEM
The problem for the architect is the development of a design which will utilize materials, construction and planning methods in such a way as to provide Mr. Canada with a solution to his requirements at the minimum cost compatible with acceptability under the Minimum Standards of the National Housing Act, 1944.
CONSTRUCTION COSTS
In normal times, it has always been difficult to appraise in advance with any degree of accuracy the actual building cost of a house. In these uncertain days of material shortages, it is even more hazardous. Two identical houses built on opposite sides of the same street by the same contractor may vary in actual costs. Further, costs may change from one locality to another and depend a great deal on the efficiency of local labour and the profits that may satisfy the builder. A cost of $6,000 was set for the Canadian Small House Competition as an approximate maximum goal for the competitors. The designs shown in this book generally are valued at $6,000 - some, of course, may cost more and some less. However, this figure should be used only as a guide for value and not as an estimate of actual cost. To avoid any difficulties, prospective home-owners who wish to build from these plans would be well advised to seek the advice of a local architect or contractor to estimate as closely as possible the cost of building such a house. This should be done before any commitments of any kind are undertaken. In this way, prospective home-builders will lessen the danger of unintentionally incurring costs beyond their means.
(From competition documentation)
THE CLIENT
The Client, Mr. Canada, an average Canadian in his middle 30' s, has needed a house since the' end of the war. He, his wife, his daughter aged five, and a son of two years, are now living in overcrowded accommodation. They need a house immediately that will provide them with convenient and healthful living conditions in accordance with their requirements.
THE CLlENT'S PROBLEM
Mr. Canada tried to buy a house but could not find one which provided the accommodation and convenience he and his family require. He then considered building but found costs out of line with his budget. He had Victory Bonds and other savings sufficient to provide the equity to finance the construction of a house to cost approximately $6,000.00 under the National Housing Act. He has a job and a reasonable assurance of permanency. He should not, however, exceed this expenditure and is very desirous of obtaining a house compatible with his family's needs at a lesser cost. He knows of the shortage of materials and high construction costs but in view of his plight he must build immediately. Having heard of new building techniques he hopes his architect will be able to employ them to solve his problem.
THE CLlENT/S REQUIREMENTS
Mr. and Mrs. Canada have seen many houses which had small and insufficient numbers of rooms. They feel that these would not provide them with the conditions of health and convenience they are determined to have. They require all rooms as large as possible within the means of their budget. They have no preference concerning style but dislike the freakish or bizarre and picturesque. They are very interested in contemporary ideas of utility and livability and would like "built-in furniture," but do not want "gadgets." Their aim is basic accommodation so as to obtain the maximum of living space for their money. A no-basement house appeals to them if this can be provided without sacrificing accommodation, especially storage space, laundry, utility, and heating facilities; and within their "price ceiling." They do not own an automobile and the provision of a garage is optional. They want a well-lighted and healthful interior and are interested in the trend to larger glass areas. Since their budget is carefully planned, heating and maintenance costs should be at a minimum. They depend upon their architect to advise them upon the building materials and equipment to be used. They have no objection to departures from traditional materials provided their architect can assure them that the new ones he suggests will give just as good service. Mrs. Canada expects to do her own housework and supervise the children. She naturally wants the rooms planned and arranged to make her household tasks easier and more pleasant, and to allow her as much free time as possible. Mr. and Mrs. Canada have found several urban lots which might be suitable. These are located on various streets and with different orientations. All the lots that they can obtain are internal ones, 40' wide or less, generally flat with a good depth of soil; some have lanes at the rear and others have not. The usual utilities are available. They expect their architect to select and make the best use of a lot and to design the house so as to obtain the best orientation. They wish to finance the construction of the house under the terms of the National Housing Act, 1944.
THE ARCHITECT'S PROBLEM
The problem for the architect is the development of a design which will utilize materials, construction and planning methods in such a way as to provide Mr. Canada with a solution to his requirements at the minimum cost compatible with acceptability under the Minimum Standards of the National Housing Act, 1944.
CONSTRUCTION COSTS
In normal times, it has always been difficult to appraise in advance with any degree of accuracy the actual building cost of a house. In these uncertain days of material shortages, it is even more hazardous. Two identical houses built on opposite sides of the same street by the same contractor may vary in actual costs. Further, costs may change from one locality to another and depend a great deal on the efficiency of local labour and the profits that may satisfy the builder. A cost of $6,000 was set for the Canadian Small House Competition as an approximate maximum goal for the competitors. The designs shown in this book generally are valued at $6,000 - some, of course, may cost more and some less. However, this figure should be used only as a guide for value and not as an estimate of actual cost. To avoid any difficulties, prospective home-owners who wish to build from these plans would be well advised to seek the advice of a local architect or contractor to estimate as closely as possible the cost of building such a house. This should be done before any commitments of any kind are undertaken. In this way, prospective home-builders will lessen the danger of unintentionally incurring costs beyond their means.
(From competition documentation)