530 The Modern Cottage: Experiments in Pise. [Sept., 



order that comparison with other materials could be made, a 

 series of cottages should be erected as follows : — 



In Concrete (various systems) ... ... ... 4 cottages 



„ Cob 2 „ 



., Pise de terre ... ... ... ... ... 6 ,, 



,, Timber (converted Army Huts) ... ... 2 „ 



„ Timber (two-storied elm weatherboarded) ... 2 „ 

 and the remainder in brickwork. 



This has been done, and the results are highly instructive to all 

 who have watched the rise of "New Amesbury." The general 

 lay out along a new road is simple, yet well conceived, although 

 the experimental nature of many of the individual houses has 

 necessitated a greater variety of types than is desirable in any 

 ordinary village scheme. 



The Department of Industrial and Scientific Research was 

 responsible for the general character of five of the cottages, and 

 in some of the cottages the experimental work has not been 

 restricted to materials and methods, but has also invaded the 

 province of pure architecture. The flat-roofed and box-like " all 

 concrete " house is, for instance, something of an architectural 

 adventure, though its claims to serious consideration from a 

 rural housing point of view have yet to be justified. Of all the 

 cottages, however, the greatest general interest is shown in 

 those built of pise de terre (earth rammed between movable 

 shutters arranged as a temporary mould). 



In this country, pise building is still regarded as a somewhat 

 startling novelty, a daring innovation to be attempted only with 

 extreme caution and under the most expert supervision. Proper 

 care and direction are of course necessary in this as in every 

 other method of building: the pise soil must,Jor instance, have 

 certain characteristics, and the pise builder must obey certain 

 simple rules of procedure. Though there may be some who 

 claim to be " experts," there is still much to be learnt, and this 

 can only be acquired in the school of experience by the method 

 of trial and error. 



So far as this country is concerned, the most experienced 

 authorities on pise are little in advance of the beginners. 

 It is the united observation and experience of enterprising 

 laymen, working under a variety of conditions, rather 

 than the academic researches of the specialists, that is likely to 

 produce a sound tradition of British pise building. 



Now that the way has been shown, first by Mr. St. Loe 

 Strachey in the " Spectator " pise cottage at Newlands Corner, 

 and now by the Ministry's more ambitious undertaking at 



