April, 1916 
13 
The truth about the bungalow is this: that no type is more popular, because cheap and 
convenient, for summer living; and no type of architecture has been more thoroughly 
abused. But it must be the right bungalow for the right family in the right place. It 
should be part of its site, as is this rustic treatment 
the building contract to some bidder, about whose work or 
integrity he knows little, just because the bid was lower than 
one entered by a reputable builder whose bid was, in itself, 
within the architect’s estimate. Then when the building of 
the house had progressed, the owner would find the dishonest 
or incompetent contractor substituting materials, or obliged to 
demand changes, etc., all of which annoyance, expense and 
disappointment, let it be remembered, might and should have 
been avoided by sensibly letting the building contract to 
builders known for their responsibility. 
House-builders in general have, fortunately, been educated 
to an understanding of the true service that can be rendered 
them by the architect, a service as deserving the customary 
recompense as is that of the physician, though, like the doctor’s 
bill, there often seems a disposition to consider it beyond 
the pale of the reasonable. This all has to do with the choos¬ 
ing of a style for a house in the country more directly than, 
perhaps, one might think, for there can be no doubt but that 
the home-builder who has not had building experience, or 
who has not given study to the problem of the suitability of cer¬ 
tain styles to certain sites, should turn to the architect for 
consultation and enlightenment. This is not to say that one 
should not have preconceived ideas on the subject, yet though 
these may be excellent, advisement may bring about their 
modification, even in minor phases, that will render them far 
more acceptable than the original conceptions to all concerned. 
Harmonizing the House and the Site 
There are two methods of procedure common to home¬ 
makers about to build. One is the choice of a house to suit 
a chosen site, and the second is the choice of a site that will 
(Continued on page 78) 
Three elements decide the kind of house you will build: the kind of house you want, the sort of site you want to place it on, and 
the nature of the life you are to lead there. Thus, this house here is built for comfort and hospitality. It is a product of its site 
