Design Solution

Within these demanding guidelines, Ross worked out an impressive solution. After appraising assorted building materials to find a combination of economy and permanence, he decided upon Hydro-stone for the exterior of the houses. Hydro-stone consisted of a mixture of gravel, crushed stone, sand, and Portland cement molded under pressure. The molding permitted facing with granite, marble, mica-spar, or colored sands; the blocks, therefore, had a more attractive finish than, standard concrete blocks.(22) For the roof, Ross recommended cement-asbestos shingles and Douglas fir for frames' sashes and interior trim.





A detached Hydrostone house





Each dwelling was to have a modern bathroom, kitchen sink, and laundry tray with hot and cold water. (23) To provide the row houses (totaling 326 dwellings) with a touch of diversity and quality, he worked out six different types of four-unit dwellings. Variety was largely obtained by altering roof designs and varying the arrangements of timber and stucco on the second storey for 'old English' effects. (24)

These row or terraced houses to be rented by the Commission formed the centerpiece and, at first, Ross' sole response to the rehousing problem. However, rising rents had stiffened the resolve of organized labor to 'take a deeper interest in the housing problem.' (25) Therefore by mid-June, 1918, pressure from a vigorous and indignant labor movement for houses immediately forced the Commission to instruct Ross to prepare plans and lots for 'frame houses of somewhat cheap type.' (26)

In conformity with the rather conservative notions of segregated residential land-use that had been worked out with Adams, Ross deliberately laid these lots west of the area designated for the row houses. The latter were to serve as a barrier between poorer quality homes and industries that existed west of the devastated area and the Richmond slope overlooking the harbour.

A somewhat better type of house was desired on the crest of the hill and the slope overlooking the harbour, and it was felt that the first group of houses should more or less form a screen between the industrial district and the residential section on the slope of the hill.(27)

Taking advantage of the view, the slope had been designated for quality dwellings. In order to set the tone for this more exclusive portion, a number of larger homes of Hydro-stone stucco, and wood were built there as replacements for homes of similar size. (28) Thus while the terraced houses to be rented were the more numerous, there were other types of residences in the project.

Each of the three components fitted a social niche, Frame houses nearest the railroad yards and industries were for 'some of the poorer class of homeless.' (29) Row houses, forming a social curtain, were to serve those who might eventually purchase their own homes. Larger replacement homes on the slope were to act as a magnet for private development of merit.

Next: Adams Plan for Glebe Lands

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This document was last modified on March 8, 2000.