Volltext Seite (XML)
EPISODES OF PLAN. ( Continued from page 143.4 We should be less embarrassed by the extent and complexity of our subject, could vve command an unlimited number of cuts to illus trate it; but being under the necessity of observing economy in that respect, and to confine ourselves to foor-plans alone, without at tempting to show anything further, we experience no little difficulty in determining what sketches to give in preference, out of the ample stock of our materials. Under such circumstances it will perhaps be expected that we should select such as bear the least resemblance to each other; ypt, by so doing, we could not show how the same lead ing idea may, by some slight modification of it, be so altered as to produce a room of quite different character. Which last consideration induces us to give a second plan for a dining-room, bearing a strong resemblance to the preceding one in its general shape and arrange ment, yet greatly varied from it with respect to many other circum stances. Therefore, in order that the two may be more conveniently compared together, we will here again introduce the first one, which was but indifferently printed when originally given. Fig. 1. Owing to the peculiarity or singularity of both these ideas, the re- s-einblance between them will probably be thought far more striking than the difference, since the second one also show's a room whose ends are convex in plan, and which Is otherw ise very similarly ar ranged. The situation here^given to the fire-place would be in itself too trifling a variation to call for notice, were it not that it materially alters the character of the whole, by leaving the entrance recess en tirely open to the room ; and in consequence, the elevation of that end becomes precisely similar to the opposite one, each of them present ing three open intercolumns, formed in this instance, merely by a di- stvle in antis, consequently with two columns less than in the other plan. A more important distinction is that in this second plan the corners of the room are cut off, whereby not only is the somewhat objectionable sharpness of the angles, occasioned in the other instance by the curved ends being brought up to the side walls, avoided, but the proportion which the end elevation bears to the entire breadth of the apartment is also altered. Besides which, four niches, placed diagonally on the plan, are thus obtained, where they would seem to No. 48.—Von. IY.—September, 1841. come in with great propriety—conspicuously, but not obtrusively; on the contrary, where they are in some measure required in order to fill up, and give importance to those spaces. For the last assigned reason, niches are likewise, introduced into the entrance recess A. Should it be made an objection that in consequence of its forming two intersecting curves in its plan, the part A would either occasion much space to be lost, or render it difficult to connect this apartment with an adjoining one, it may be got over by converting the curved wall in which the door is placed into a flat one. Such alteration would still leave the rest of the design just the same as before; nevertheless its character would in some degree be affected by it, and that for the worse, if only because the uniformity now kept up, by the smaller re cess A being curved both ways similarly to the larger one B, would then be destroyed. How far the circumstance here noticed would create difficulty by interfering too much with the general plan of the house, mnst depend upon what would be altogether foreign from our present purpose to take into consideration; our object here being merely to suggest new ideas, and bring forward episodical portions of a plan, not to adapt them to plans in general. We leave the particu lar application of them to others, leaving also those who may care to adopt any of our hints to adapt and modify them accordingly as cir cumstances may require; for what would be found eligible and con venient enough in one case, would prove exactly the contraryin another A remark to the same effect has, we find, already been made by us, nevertheless it is one that will very well bear to be repeated, as it is likely to be forgotten by others, though it is highly important that it should be constantly borne in mind by our readers. The sideboard alcove B does not call for much explanation or com ment, we shall therefore confine ourselves to saying that the same ac commodation is here afforded as in the first plan, namely an entrance into it for servants. Though two doors are shown, one of them would be sufficient for the purpose, and the other might either be a sham one, or should the plan allow of its being done, might be made to lead to a strong closet for containing the more valuable articles of plate, and also a small retiring closet, &c. The window in this alcove is supposed to be at a considerable height from the floor—eight or nine f ee t—as the sideboard would be placed beneath it; and it is intended merely to obtain some light from a back court or area, for which rea son it should have coloured or ground glass, but merely of such hue as would be sufficient to correct rawness of effect, and throw a sunshiny glow into that end of the room. Though it is differently represented in the cut (fig. 2), it would perhaps be better to confine this window to what now forms its centre compartment (corresponding in breadth with the centre intercolumn of the alcove), treating it as an oblong transparent panel, slightly sunk in the upper part of the wall. We will now submit another idea professing to be no more than a variation of the alcove capable of being adapted to either of the pre ceding plans; for which reason it is unnecessary to show the whole of the room in the cut. In this instance the alcove is greatly extended as to depth, more especially as compared with that in fig. 1, from which, indeed, it is altogether dissimilar, because there not only is the recess considerably shallower, but its back wall is curved convexly, and concentrically with the elevation towards the room. At the same time it resembles fig. 1, in so far as it occupies the entire width of the room; but then again, such resemblance is attended with a very material difference, inasmuch as in fig. 3, the alcove is more enclosed, so that it seems to expand itself within, as viewed through the external columns. The same may be said of it, if it be compared with fig. 2, that being a sim ple recess merely divided off from the room by columns, and no wider vrithin than its opening towards the room. Fig. 3, on the contrary, affords an example of what may very well be distinguished by the name of a compound recess,—and also of what 2 R