Non-Fireproof Buildings.—The great ma jority of buildings cannot be rated as fireproof. Construction formerly rated as fireproof is now rated as semi-fireproof. The demand for cheap structures forces the erection of a vast number of buildings of mixed brick and wood as well as all-wood or frame buildings. In New York and most large cities these non fireproof buildings are restricted to 75 feet in height, though in a few large western cities 100 feet is permitted. Each city has its own building regulations, and these are apt to be more stringent in cities like Baltimore, San Francisco and Salem, Mass., that have suffered from severe conflagrations. In practically all United States cities wood structures of limited height are permitted outside of what are known as the "fire limits)) Along with the advance in the construction of mercantile and public buildings in cities there has progressed a country-wide development of residence structures. These may be considered profitably under two heads: Country Homes and Suburban Homes. The former classifica tion includes the larger and more expensive buildings erected chiefly as summer residences for men of wealth. In this class the ruling tendency has been toward the revival of the old colonial exteriors with, in many cases, repro ductions of the oldtime interiors, but harmon ized with the ultra-modern conveniences of the present day. Individualized examples of Eliza bethan and Georgian types, with motives adapted from other foreign models have been erected; but, far outweighing this sporadic con struction, has been the gradual development of a distinctly American type of country house. This may be briefly described as low and spreading, with long, peaceful horizontal lines and a low-pitched, hipped roof showing a heavy overhang. In the more successful expressions of this type much importance is given to the roof as a visible feature, treated broadly and simply. The high-pitched and lofty gables, towers, turrets and spire-like chimneys of the past have disappeared from the design, and the same fate has befallen the practice of breaking up a noble roof area with a row of petty soli tary dormers. Along the Pacific Coast the architecture of the old Spanish missions has had its influence, but in general the motive has been adapted rather than adopted. This type of house combines with tall trees to produce highly artistic landscape effects which appeal strongly to that subconscious sentiment ex pressed by the word "homelike." Even in the older houses of square and stocky outline the low, spreading effect has been measurably se cured by the addition of one-story wings, per golas or similar constructions.
In the smaller detached suburban homes the same idea prevails in what has been called the "bungalow": — as it has been developed, an other distinctive American creation. The essen tial beauty of low masses and spreading lines of the American bungalow offers a basic motive on which American architects have skilfully worked styles as widely variant as Swiss, Span ish, Italian, Old Colonial, and even Egyptian. Stucco, titles, shingles, logs, natural wood, painted sidings, upright and horizontal, in num berless combinations with stone, brick and con crete have yielded structures of striking beauty and attractiveness, and the residence quarters of many of the smaller cities show street after street of these picturesque and truly American bungalows and semi-bungalows.
Since so many materials have become avail able for building. there has been an immense increase in minor building supplies and conveni ences. For instance, for cheap construction
a plaster board is made of thin alternate layers if paper and plaster of paris, as a substitute for lath. It is simply tacked on the joists in large squares, and serves as a base to hold a thin coat of plaster. In isolated structures of the bungalow type it is a decided conveni ence.
Portable buildings are coming into use, these being made in sections at the factory, and shipped by rail or wagon almost anywhere. Being cheap, they are in much demand for summer camps. Some are made of corrugated steel and are quite substantial. Many are adapted for use as garages and outbuildings in the country.
Exterior Finishes.— The artistic effect of a building depends upon its color as well as upon its form either in general lines or detail. For durability and permanency of color, com bined with economy, no exterior facing can sur pass natural red brick. We now have reds toning into the browns and purples, and com bined often with dark headers, from which it is possible to lay up a simple surface full of artistic interest. Outside the plain red, there is a wide variety of brick within certain limits* whites, buffs, browns or grays are easily obtain able both in the plain colors and mottled, and made by either the wet or the dry process. Color, width and style of mortar joints, if used knowingly, can be made to intensify or soften the natural color of the brick. American enam eled brick holds its own with the English, and is invaluable for light-shafts and damp places. Nearly all makes, however, craze or chip in time.
Architectural terra-cotta, as an exterior fin ish, easily claims first rank in point of develop ment. .Many steel structures are covered en tirely with it, excepting perhaps parts near the ground, subject to abrasion. It can be made in almost any color by means of °slips" or "glazes," and it lends itself readily to decora tion. The use of terra-cotta is of advantage to the architect, in that he can see the models for every part of the work as they are in proc ess, and vary them to his satisfaction before they are finally cast. Economy in the use of terra-cotta comes chiefly from minimizing the number of molds; but this must be guarded against, for, if pushed to excess, monotony is likely to result.
Ornamental bronze, copper and iron work, through improved processes of manipulation, have added greatly to the possible richness of exterior effect.
Outside enclosures of sheet metal, such as iron or aluminum, are rarely wsthetic. Cor rugated sheet iron has been used extensively for freight sheds, wharf enclosures and similar ordinary constructions, where no effort for good looks has been made. The enclosure of steel-skeleton buildings with metal is not to be counted upon where such buildings are ten anted, as it is too great a conductor of heat.
Rough-cast and plaster work are most ad mirable and sympathetic as exterior wall fin ishes, where the extremes of temperature from winter to summer are not too great. Even adobe structures are possible in the South and West, but use is most limited. Rough cast or pebble-dash is applied to both masonry walls and lath; it is more durable on masonry, as the expansion and shrinkage of lath tend to disintegrate the mortar. Rough-cast is com bined frequently with timber work in imitation of the old English half-timber constructions, and is specially adapted to domestic buildings of the freer country sort.