The advisability of fireproof construction need not be urged to-day, but some are not yet convinced of its reasonable price and possibilities for attractive architectural treat¬ 
ment. This latter point is shown in this house, the home of Rupert Hughes. Aymar Embury II, architect 
Building Construction that Resists Fire 
THE RESULTS OF EXHAUSTIVE TESTS ON VARIOUS METHODS OF FIREPROOF CONSTRUCTION—SOME 
DETAILS THAT WILL ADVISE THE PROSPECTIVE HOMEBUILDER OF LOW COST METHODS OF BUILDING 
BY H. M. M C M A S T E R 
Photographs by T. E. Marr and Harry Coutant 
W ITH the growing tendency to accept the modern doctrine 
of fire prevention — that it is common-sense to build so 
not to burn rather than to place 
dependence upon costly and com¬ 
plicated methods of extinguishing, 
the prospective house-owner finds 
himself confronted by problems 
creating new view-points—both for 
himself and the architect. He 
does not want a structure that will 
Pointed Expandedtjcto/ Loth 
Not Less than dibs to the sqyd 
Cement Plaster and 
Stucco Finish 
a'x-S'Bracncj^l 
- * Or Pound Pnd.<t'. Tirri 
^zE'Or&o und R ods _ 
'It^rqCjn n 
begin to deteriorate before the roof 
is on; that will be a continual 
source of care and expense to keep 
from decay and that may be de¬ 
stroyed over night by fire. 
Those who live in residential 
and suburban districts are be¬ 
ginning to think the things that 
worry persons living in con¬ 
gested sections of cities. When 
a man builds he now wonders 
what kind of roof will save his 
home from the menace of the 
flying firebrand and what kind 
of wall will best turn aside the 
fingers of flame reaching from a 
little blaze, which may have 
been started in the back yard by 
the children. It is not alone 
children who are fascinated by 
the magic of producing a flame 
from the tiny match head. A 
fair proportion of our huge fire 
A detail of the construction indicated as Type A in this article, where 
no sheathing is used but the metal lath is applied directly to the studs 
This house was constructed in the manner shown above and demonstrates 
the prominence of such materials after weathering. A. A. Thayer, architect 
loss is directly traceable to the effect of this “fascination.” 
Sometimes considerations of cost prevent one from building 
of stone, brick, or concrete. Often, 
aesthetic or architectural reasons 
intervene before a man’s prefer¬ 
ences, and out of this situation has 
developed the vogue of the stucco 
house, which may be built upon 
the more expensive brick, the 
lighter and less expensive tile, the 
still lighter and less expensive 
metal lath on frame, or the pine 
lath on frame. The author has not 
in mind to make compari¬ 
sons, invidious or otherwise, 
but rather to tell of one type of 
stucco house, which can be 
built at no greater cost than the 
ordinary clap-boarded house. It 
is a type which lends itself readily 
to the originality or creative 
genius of the architect, and in 
fact stimulates his efforts. 
What a dreary old world this 
would be if we all thought alike 
— were all “trailers” — each con¬ 
tent to do as others do! The 
iconoclast has a mission, surely; 
one who finds joy in creation 
must be imbued with the spirit 
of inconoclasm. Can an archi¬ 
tect be other than this ? Lately, 
the author went into a new 
(20) 
