18iO.J 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



125 



though modified by local and other circumstances, it will be found 

 the geiieral practice in Great Britain, as well as in the large con- 

 tinental towns, for several families of the working classes to reside 

 in one liouse. 



The important point, then, for consideration, is, in what manner 

 can the advantages of this economical arrangement be retained, 

 witliout the serious practical evils which have been referred to? 



In providing for the accommodation of a large number of 

 families in one pile of building, a leading feature of the plan should 

 he the preservation of the domestic privacy and independence of 

 each distinct family, and the disconnection of their apartments, so 

 as effectually to prevent the communication of contagious diseases. 

 This is accomplished in the model houses built in Streatham-street, 

 Bloomsbury, by dispensing altogether with separate staircases, and 

 other internal communications between the different stories, and 

 by adopting one common open staircase leading into galleries or 

 corridors, open on one side to a spacious quadrangle, and on the 

 other side having the outer doors of the several tenements, the 

 rooms of whicli are protected from draught by a small entrance 

 lobby. The galleries are supported next the quadrangle by a 

 series of arcades, each embracing two stories in height; and the 

 slate floors of the intermediate galleries rest on iron beams, which 

 also carry the inclosure railing. The tenements being tlius 

 rendered separate dwellings, and having fewer than seven windows 

 in each, it is confidently submitted are not liable to the window- 

 tax — which, in a financial point of view, is a consideration of much 

 importance — a saving of at least between seventy and eighty 

 pounds per annum being thus effected on the entire range of build- 

 ings. 



Open Gallery. 

 \'.nt' Vont' 



PLAN OK ONE OF THE TENEMENTS. 

 10 



■-L^ 



The plan at a large scale exhibits one tenement or set of apart- 

 ments with their appropriate fittings, which comprise all the con- 

 veniences requisite for a well-ordered family, and include, in 

 addition to the bed-rooms, a provision for an inclosed turn-up bed 

 in a closet out of the living-room. 



The nature of the foundation rendering excavation to a con- 

 siderable depth indispensable, a basement story has been formed, 

 with a range of well-lighted and ventilated workshops. 



The floors and roofs of these buildings are rendered fire-proof 

 by arching with hollow tiles or bricks slightly wedge-shaped. They 

 are 6 inches deep, 4 inches wide on the top part, 9 inches long. 



gths to 1 inch tliick; the rise of the arches is from f-inch to 1 inch 

 per foot on the span, and they are set in Portland cement in the 

 proportion of one part cement to two parts sharp sand, the tiles 

 being well wetted before being used. 



The arrangement of the building is such as to render the floor 

 and roof arches a continual series of abutments to each other, ex- 

 cepting at the extremities, where tliey are tied in with g-inch iron 

 rods, secured to stone or cast-iron springei-s. The roof is levelled 

 with concrete, and asphalted. The floors of the bed-rooms are 

 boarded on joists 2 inch square, cut out 1 inch on the back of the 

 arch, and secured to two sleepers; the remainder of the floors are 

 in Portland cement, excepting the basement, which is of metallic 

 lava. 



The extra cost of rendering tliis l)uilding fire-proof, as well as 

 preventing the communication of sound, and all percolation of 

 water between the several floors, by means of tlie tile arches, beyond 

 the cost of construction with the ordinary combustible floors and 

 roof, as ascertained by comparative tenders, do not exceed about 

 12.?. per cent, on the contract for the entire pile of building, which 

 is 7370/.; and, in all probability, when a regular demand arises for 

 roof and floor arch-tiles, they will be supplied at such a price as to 

 allow of their use without any extra cost. 



The Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of 

 the Industrious Classes was incorporated by royal charter in 

 October, 1845, and their first range of dwellings, built in the Old 

 Pancras-road, for the accommodation of 110 families, was opened 

 for reception of the tenants early in 184.8. These buildings, from 

 the designs of Mr. Moff'et, present an extended and imposing front 

 of about 296 feet, with advancing wings, and are five stories high. 

 The subdivision into distinct double-houses, with a central stone 

 staircase to each, is similar to that of the Birkenhead buildings. 

 They are not fire-proof, but have the advantage of larger-sized 

 apartments, and unob.structed light and air. The internal stair- 

 case arrangement involves them equally in the heavy charge of 

 window-tax, which, on the whole pile of buildings, amounts to 

 about 150/. per annum. These buildings have been constantly 

 occupied since their completion, and tlie most gratifying evidence 

 has been given of the change produced in the health and comfort 

 of the tenants, by tlieir improved and salubrious dwellings. 



The second undertaking of the Metropolitan Society has been 

 the building in Spitalfields of a lodging-house for 234 single men, 

 with dormitories arranged on a similar plan to those in the George- 

 street, Bloomsbury, lodging-houses, opened in 1847. The living- 

 room accommodation is more extensive and costly, as it comprises 

 a coffee-room 45 feet by 35 feet, a kitchen 46 feet by 21 ft. 9 in., a 

 lecture-room 35 feet by 21 ft. 9 in., and a reading-room 25 feet by 

 21 ft. 9 in. This building is just completed from the designs of 

 Mr. W. Beck. The charge for each lodger has been fixed at 3.9. 

 per week, whilst that in George-street, Bloomsbury, is only 2s. id. 

 per week; it remains to be seen whether the extra ])ayment beyond 

 id. per night, the usual charge for lodging for single men, will be 

 paid for such increased accommodation. It may also be question- 

 able how far the class of men for whom lodgings in such a neigli- 

 bourhood are chiefly needed, will be really benefited by the luxuries 

 here provided, and which but few men in full employment can have 

 much time for enjoying. It should, however, be observed, that the 

 proximity of this establishment to the spacious range of dwellings 

 for families, building by the same Association, affords the oppor- 

 tunity of appropriating to tlie use of the occupants of those dwell- 

 ings, during certain portions of tlie day, some of the accommodation 

 afiVirded in this building, and thus turning to good account what 

 might otherwise be surplus accommodation. 



The internal plan of these dwellings for families is similar in 

 general disposition to those in the Old Pancras-road, the relative 

 position of the door and fire-places in the living-rooms is better 

 than in the latter buildings, but the position of the entrance under 

 the centre of the staircase, from apparent w ant of height, is 

 unsatisfactory. 



Besides the new buildings to which reference has been made, the 

 spirit of improvement has in several places been manifested by the 

 re-modelling of old buildings, and fitting them up as near as cir- 

 cumstances will admit on an improved and sanitary plan, so as to 

 render them healtliy and comfortable abodes. That improvements 

 of this description might be effected to a very great extent, with 

 immense advantage to the working classes, and a handsome 

 remunerative return to those who undertake tliem with judgment, 

 and who do not slirink from the trouble wliich they in\olve, the 

 experience of the Society for Improving tlie Condition of tlie 

 Labouring Classes has clearly demonstrated. 



In adapting and fitting up old buildings, as well as in erecting 



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