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OFFICIAL DESCRIPTIVE AND ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE.

the fireplace is an iron rod for hanging pictures; and onthe opposite side of the room a shelf is earned above thedoors, with a rail fixed between them.

The scullery is fitted up with a sink, beneath which isa coal-bin of slate; a plate-rack at one end, drained by aslate slab into the sink, covers the entrance to the dust-shaft, which is enclosed by a balanced self-acting irondoor. The dust-shaft leads into a closed depositoryunder the stairs, and has a ventilating flue, carried upabove the roof. The meat safe is ventilated through thehollow brickwork, and shelves are fixed over the doors.A dresser-flap may be fixed against the partition.

The sleeping apartments, being three in number, pro-vide for that separation which, with a family, is so essen-tial to morality and decency. Each has its distinctaccess, and a -window into the open air ; two have fire-places.

The children’s bed-rooms contain 50 feet superficialeach, and, opening out of the living room, an opportunityis afforded for the exercise of parental watchfulness,without the unwholesome crowding of the living room,by its use as a sleeping apartment.

The parents’ bed-room, with a superficial area of about100 feet, is entered through the scullery—an arrange-ment in many respects preferable to a direct approachfrom the living room, particularly in case of sickness.The recess in this room provides a closet for linen ; anda shelf is carried over the door, with a rail fixed beneathit—a provision which is made in each of the other bed-rooms.

The water-closet is fitted up with a Staffordshire glazedbasin, which is complete without any wood fittings, andsupplied with water from a slate cistern in common of160 gallons, placed on the roof over the party and stair-case walls. The same pipes which carry away the rain-water from the roof serve for the use of the closets.

Constructive arrangement .—The peculiarities of the build-ing in this respect are, the exclusive use of hollow bricksfor the walls and partitions (excepting the foundations,which are of ordinary brickwork), and the entire absenceof timber in the floors and roof, which are formed withflat arches of hollow brickwork, rising from 8 to 9 inches,set in cement, and tied in by wrought-iron rods connectedwith cast-iron spi'ingers, which rest on the external walls,and bind the whole structure together; the building isthus rendered fire-proof, and much less liable to decaythan those of ordinary construction. The roof arching,which is levelled with concrete, and covered with patentmetallic lava, secures the upper rooms from the liabilityto changes of temperature to which apartments next theroof are generally subject, and the transmission of sound,as well as the percolation of moisture, so common throughordinary floors, is effectually impeded by the hollow-brick arched floors.

The external and main internal walls are of patentbonded brickwork, which has the important advantagesof securing dryness and warmth,* with economy of con-struction; another great benefit arising from the use ofhollow bricks is, that where they are laid double, in

* Those who are conversant with the evils resulting from the ab-sorption of moisture by common bricks, and the consequent loss oftemperature in rooms by evaporation, will duly appreciate these ad-vantages.

parallel courses, without headers, as in the patent bondedbrickwork, the internal face of the wall is sufficientlysmooth to render plastering unnecessary. In the presentinstance, where plastering has been resorted to, it is con-fined to one side of a thin partition, or to partitionsformed with bricks not intended for the situation inwhich they are used.

In regard to some other parts of the brickwork, itshould also be observed, that owing to the erection ofthe building having been determined on late in thewinter, many difficulties had to be contended with inobtaining a sufficient supply of hollow bricks ; and fromaccidental circumstances, disappointments were expe-rienced in reference to a considerable number, on whichaccount the structure should be regarded rather as thepledge of future excellence in hollow-brick constructionthan as its full accomplishment.

The glazed surface of the bricks used in the two upper-floor living-rooms, and at the foot of the staircase, maybe referred to as a specimen of what can be accomplishedby the skilful adaptation of fitting materials, and ashighly creditable to their maker. Specimens of glazedbricks of clay from the north of Devon are also exhibited.

The advantages afforded by the use of hollow bricksin securing an effective system of insensible ventilation,deserves particular notice. Fresh air is admitted fromany suitable point of the exterior of the building to achamber at the back of the living-room fireplace, wherebeing warmed, it may be conducted to any convenientplace of exit above the level at which the fresh air isadmitted. Vitiated -air may be conveyed either into thechimney flue or to any other suitable place of exitthrough the upper wall courses, perforated for this pur-pose, beneath the springing of the arch, or through thearch-bricks themselves. Suitable air-bricks and venti-lators have been prepared with these express objects inview.

Internally French plaster has been used, as dryingquicker, and having a harder surface than ordinaryplaster. The floors, where not of Portland cement, arelaid with Staffordshire tiles, excepting to the right-handroom first floor, which is of lava. The coping is inPortland cement. The external string courses and in-ternal cornices are patent bonded bricks set in Portlandcement, with the splayed side outwards.

The mode of fire-proof construction, and the generalarrangement of the fittings, are such as have been usedin the Model Houses built by the Society for Improvingthe Condition of the Labouring Classes, to which thearchitect of this building, Henry Roberts, Esq., F.S.A.,also acted as honorary architect.

In most parts of England, the cost of four houses,built on the plan of this model structure, with ordinarymaterials, and finished similar to the ground-floor apart-ments, may be stated at 440/. to 480/., or from 110/. to120/. for each tenement, contingent on the facilities forobtaining materials and the value of labour. Such dwell-ings, let at 3s. 6d. to 4s. a-week, would, after deductingground-rent and taxes, afford a return of 7 per cent, onthe amount of outlay. _ Where hollow bricks are obtain-able at a fair price, their use ought to effect a reductionof about 25 per cent, on the cost of the brickwork, orequal on these four houses to about 40/.