To the second edition of this book a postscript must be added. Since the
last paragraph was written, the small-holder's house has come into
actual being at Newlands Corner, near Guildford, and has attracted a
good deal of attention from the Press, both at home and abroad. It has
been inspected by multitudes of people, including a great number of
Colonials and prospective Colonists, and by many distinguished persons
directly or indirectly concerned with the problems of housing.
That "Good wine needs no bush" may be a true saying, but a novel system
of building assuredly needs demonstration, however great its merits. The
success of the experiment at Newlands is admitted by all who have made
the pilgrimage thither. Often would critics come to scoff and remain to
pray. Specially prized amongst the converts is a foreman-bricklayer once
openly scornful in his unbelief. Of enthusiasm, perhaps, there has been
almost over much; and it has been difficult to restrain the zeal of
would-be pise-builders until the coming of spring, and the return of
such weather conditions as the craft might reasonably demand.
[Illustration:
+A Simple Mould for Pise Blocks.+]
[Illustration:
+Block-Moulds, Large and Small. The Latter shown opened out.+]
[Illustration:
+Sketch of a Pise House in Course of Erection.+
With acknowledgements to _The Sphere_.]
For pise is a "dry-earth" method of building, and, as at present
practised, that means it is a summer job, so far, at any rate, as
England is concerned.
The author is the last person to claim that pise-building may be
successfully and economically carried out in all places, and at all
seasons. He merely suggests that in a great many parts of the United
Kingdom, pise offers possibilities of cheap yet permanent building that
are very well worth exploitation.
A wide and thorough trial of the method now seems assured under a
variety of conditions in a sufficient variety of places. Pise is to be
given its chance in Housing Schemes, in Government building
demonstrations, on Ducal estates, and by ordinary private citizens in
need of houses--by the rich (old and new), and by the poor.
[Headnote: If Reason Rule]
If reason rule, pise will make good and all will be well.
If pise-building is attempted where the conditions are unsuitable and in
defiance of its physical limitations, the misguided enthusiasts
responsible must blame only themselves. But it is not self-reproach
alone that they will have to suffer, for the author and all true friends
of pise will view their troubles with as much anger as sorrow.
Nothing could be so well calculated to bring discredit on a new movement
as the failures of a few enthusiastic incompetents.
THE FIRST DEMONSTRATION PISE DE TERRE HOUSE AT NEWLANDS CORNER,
NEAR GUILDFORD
_With acknowledgments to the "Spectator"_
_Description._--The house has six rooms arranged on one floor, of areas
and cubical contents as laid down in their higher "schedules of
accommodation" by the Ministry of Health and the Board of Agriculture.
The plan is an adaptation of the first type illustrated in the Board's
new manual "designed for the guidance of County Councils and their
architects" in the matter of buildings for small-holdings.
The walls are of 18-in. solid pise-work, the roof of red Bridgewater
tiles, and the chimney breasts and stacks of brickwork.
The floors are boarded save for the back kitchen, which is tiled. The
inner partitions are of 2-in. breeze blocks, the ceilings are plastered,
and the casement windows are of steel.
There are two good lofts for storage, one entered from the barn, which
is an extension of the house proper.
The pillars of the barn and the partition wall between scullery and
veranda are of 18 in. by 9 in. by 9 in. rammed earth blocks; the angle
pillar to the veranda is of similar blocks made from soft chalk.
The rest of the structure is of monolithic pise, built up _in situ_
without joints of any kind, either horizontally or vertically.
_Cost._--The total cost of the whole of the outer walling of the house
(in pise) amounted to less than L20. Had the walls been built in
brickwork the cost would, according to estimate, have been about L200.
[Headnote: The Newlands Specification]
_Specification._--The following is an abridged extract from the
specification so far as it affects the pise-builder:
(1) Excavate to a depth of 9 in. over the site, dumping the turf and
surface humus where directed.
This soil is not to be used for building.
(2) Lay a 6-in. bed of cement and flint concrete 3 ft. wide under outer
walls. Centrally on this, lay two courses of brickwork in cement, to a
width of 18 in., or build up to the same extent in concrete.
Lay on this an approved damp-proof course; if of slates, having a
further course of brickwork or concrete above it to prevent fracture
when ramming.
[Illustration:
+The Newlands Corner Pise Demonstration Building.+]
[Illustration:
+Newlands. The Cottage from the South-east.+]
[Illustration:
+Newlands. The Garden Court.+]
(3) Erect the walls according to the plan on the bases thus formed,
carrying them up plumb and true and properly bonded by working round the
building course by course, using the special angle-pieces at the corners
to keep the work continuous and homogeneous.
(4) All stones and flints above a walnut size to be removed by riddling
and reserved for concrete.
All sticks, leaves, roots, and other vegetable matter to be eliminated.
(5) The soil immediately on the site to be used without admixture of any
sort and to be thrown direct into the shutterings.
No water to be added without the express permission of the architect.
(6) The boxes are to be filled in thin layers of not more than 4 in. at
a time, and well rammed until solid. The workmen are not to use their
rammers in unison.
(7) Rammed earth at box ends to be shaved down to a 45 degrees slope so
as to splice in with new span of pise adjoining it.
Where door and window openings occur, the special "stops" to be adjusted
and firmly secured so as to withstand hard ramming. Two 4 in. by 2 in.
by 9 in. plugs to be built in to each window jamb for the securing of
the frames and three to each door jamb.
Special care to be taken in the thorough ramming at the corners and
along the box edges.
(8) Insert below floor level, where directed, 24 3-in. field drainage
pipes to act as ventilators through the thickness of the wall. Insert
wire mesh stops to exclude vermin.
(9) Set all frames square and plumb, and where in outer walls, flush
with finished exterior plaster-face, the joint being covered by a 2-in.
by 3/4-in. fillet.
Where lintels occur, they are to be tailed in at least 9 in. on each
side the opening.
Provide plain picture-rail round all rooms at window-head level,
providing plugs for fixing where necessary.
Secure to floor round all boarded rooms a 2-in. by 1-1/2-in. angle
fillet as skirting.
(10) The smooth surface of the pise walling to be hammer-chipped to give
good key to the plaster.
Before rendering or plastering walls, any loose earth or dust to be
removed with a stiff brush and the wall surface evenly wetted.
[Illustration: NEWLANDS CORNER PISE HOUSE. THE PLAN.]
The rendering to be carried evenly round the walls--the minor square
angles being roughly chipped down first so as to obviate sharp corners.
The main corners of the house are ready-rounded off to a 9-in. radius by
the special corner mould.
(11) Bond brick and slab work to pise walls by driving iron spikes into
the latter every few courses at joint level and bedding in.
(12) Colour-wash walls with tallow lime-whiting tinted with ochre.
Provide 2 ft. skirting of pitch, applied hot, to form base-course round
exterior of building.
[Illustration:
+Newlands. The Backyard, showing Barn with Pise Pillars.+]
[Illustration:
+Newlands. Framing the Roof.+]
[Illustration:
+Newlands. An Interior, showing Fire-brick Hearth Fire.+]
N.B.--The exterior of the walls of the Newlands Corner house have been
finished in several different ways with a view to determining the most
durable and economical form of epidermis.
A trial pise-building adjoining has stood for four years without any
external protection whatever. It has suffered no damage and grows
continually harder. For the sake of appearances, however, and for the
better preservation of the wall from chance injury whilst still "green,"
a coating of some sort may be deemed necessary.
[Headnote: A Swedish Contribution]