Get, 1859 , 
297 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
The design, presented herewith, is furnished to 
sis by Messrs. Saeltzer & Valk, “architects-of the 
Academy of Music, Astor Library, ete.” The de¬ 
sign did not strike us favorably at first, nor are 
we greatly pleased with it after a closer study. 
The fault may, perhaps, be in our own want of 
due appreciation, and we therefore give the archi¬ 
tects an opportunity to lay their plans before the 
public, for approval or condemnation, as the re¬ 
sult may be. With a few unimportant verbal 
changes and omissions, we give the architects’ 
own claims and description : 
“ The conception of a new style of architecture 
is a matter of considerable importance to the ar¬ 
chitects among ottr own countrymen. Why 
should we not have a style of our own, truly 
American in its characteristics, though it may not 
be entirely new 1 The noble minds of the Gre¬ 
cians produced a grand and noble style ; the lux¬ 
ury of the Romans one of magnificence ; the 
Arabians a fantastic and romantic style; the Eng¬ 
lish a style equally as characteristic of the peo¬ 
ple ; and yet we, with all our ingenuity and love 
of progress, are yet unahle to acknowledge a 
style of our own. Afier four years of study of 
the different styles, and extensive travels in other 
countries, we submit the above design as being as 
near an approach to an exposition of American • 
life as architectural forms can represent. The 
Italian order was taken as the foundation, but 
revised to suit the different purposes and wants 
required. We do not attempt the impossibility of 
originating an entirely new style, but simply to 
modify former styles so as to harmonize with the 
life of our countrymen. We wish it understood 
that the above is only one example and one plan. 
Description. —The external general architec¬ 
tural appearance is shown in the elevation plan 
above. By reference to this, with the annexed 
ground plan, it will be seen that the entrance is 
through an arbor and enclosed piazza, leading to 
the main hall which communicates with the par¬ 
lor, library, and sitting room. The main stair¬ 
case is in the rear of the main hall. The parlor 
has a beautiful bay-window in front, and a com¬ 
municating hall, and an enclosed piazza on the 
rear which has steps to the garden. The com¬ 
municating-hall leads to the dining-room and kit¬ 
chen. This location of the dining-room and kit¬ 
chen disconnects them from the other rooms. 
The dining-room lias the various conveniences, 
such as the butler’s pantry, enclosed piazza, 
(marked P 2), a sitting place (S. P), etc. The 
kitchen has pantry, laundry, rear entrance, and 
servants’ stair-case, all distinct from other parts 
of the house The dimensions of the principal 
rooms are all marked on the ground plan below. 
On the Second Floor, are six bed-rooms—each 
the comforts and conveniences combined, this 
house can he completed for $6,000. The great¬ 
est economy in the construction has been con¬ 
stantly kept in view in the conception of thv 
style.” 
Remarks. —The study of this plan, like that ol 
every other one, however perfect or faulty in it¬ 
self, will he useful. One can scarcely examini 
any plan carefully, without discovering some use¬ 
ful hint; and as almost every person expects, at 
some time, to construct or improve a dwelling ol 
his own, we think it advantageous to give fre¬ 
quent illustrations of dwelling houses, even those 
which we do not approve as a whole. In the 
above plan we think there are several prominent 
defects. In matters of taste, what will please 
«ne may be disagreeable to another, and neither 
GROUND PLAN. 
having closets and a separate communication— 
two bath-rooms, one for the family, and one for 
servants. The second floor rooms are similar in 
size to those on the fiist floor, the smallest bed¬ 
room being 18 by 14 feet. It will he observed, by 
reference to the plan, that we have given a series 
of beautiful views through the interior of the 
house; and also the important requis'te of 
draughts of air through all the rooms. With all 
person he able to tell exactly why he is pleased 
or displeased. Thus, in the elevation plan, above, 
the roof of the main or center structure appears 
too flat, or too heavy, or too scolloped at the 
edges—something about it leaves an unpleasant 
impression. The cross-piece and scroll-work at 
the gable, and the upright ‘‘bed-post” would be 
better left off, we think. The cupola, for some 
reason does not appear to stand in the right place 
