The rustic structure in that it is absolutely informal, is out of place in any but a natural garden. It is, however, a desirable feature removed 
from the vicinity of the house and in woodsy surroundings 
Suitable Garden Shelters 
THE ARCHITECTURAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE SUMMER-HOUSE—WHAT SERVICE IT ACCOM¬ 
PLISHES AND WHAT PLEASURE IT AFFORDS—THE QUESTIONS OF LOCATION AND CONSTRUCTION 
BY Ml L 1 ) K E 1) S T A I* L E Y 
Photographs by Mary H. Northend 
G ARDEX-HOL^SES, pavilions and jtergolas should be 
studied as carefully as larger and more costly work— 
studied not only in relation to 
their environment, but to 
their material and detail. Ex¬ 
cellence in small structures is 
always worth while, as the 
Colonial porches, which .are 
often the only embellishments 
of a severely plain farm¬ 
house, demonstrate. Because 
our garden architecture on a 
small property is usually limit¬ 
ed to a pergola and a summer¬ 
house, these only spots of ac¬ 
centuation in the grounds in¬ 
vite .all the more criticism and 
therefore must never be slight¬ 
ed. Only careful treatment can 
make them an artistic success 
as well as a secluded shelter. 
They must not look like for¬ 
eign touches — afterthoughts 
to the original intention — but 
like a part of the house and 
garden, designed with them. 
Generally speaking, shade- 
rests and pergolas mav be classified in three grou])s: the severely 
classic at one extreme, the rustic at the other, and in between, that 
domestic style of garden arbor and retreat which grew out of 
our own Colonial designs; or rather out of the fact that Co¬ 
lonial builders were masters 
in woodwork and therefore, 
in copying the stone pro¬ 
totypes of the Old World, 
evolved an indigenous semi¬ 
classic style of great charm 
and which can he found no¬ 
where else. The two ex¬ 
tremes—strictly classic and 
the rustic—need no descrip¬ 
tion : this in-l)etween style is 
not so easily recognized. Its 
chief characteristics are light¬ 
ness and grace : it avoids all 
heavy timber and prefers .a 
good deal of lattice work; 
also it takes all sorts of lil:)er- 
ties with classic proportions. 
In sliort. it is simply an ar¬ 
tistic arrangement of posts 
and sawed cross-])ieces, these 
often taking the form of a 
v.aulted or arched top. It was 
always extremely well built, 
and summer-houses and ar¬ 
bors of this class still stand in g'ood condition in old New Eng¬ 
land places that have been neglected and run down for years.. 
A rustic arbor is especially fitting in this place. It co.Tiniands a view 
over a field to a lake 
( 35 ) 
