To the Masters
of the Master Art
Begin to think about it now. Mull it over in your minds during the warm weather and then put it on the boards in the fall.
The American Face Brick Association wants to do more than to sell its product; it wants to encourage more substantial and attractive building throughout the country; it wants to further a better type of architecture where it is sadly needed in all our smaller communities.
As you architects are the only people who can accomplish this end, we are frankly asking your cooperation in a nationwide competition for the design of a small Face Brick house, such as would appeal to the average American of moderate means who wishes to build either in the small town or in the city environs.
The utilitas and firmitas of good old Vitruthus are, of course, prime conditions, but the key necessity of the competition must be his venustas, the attractive charm of artistic design. We are heartily tired of the chaos of blank ugliness in the form of small houses—and many large ones, too, for that matter — throughout our wellto-do and prosperous communities, where the entrancing forms of beauty are found only in clouds, trees, grass, and flowers; in blended harmonies of line and color of the wooded hills; or in the sinuous delights of lush verdure keeping step to the music of the brook through the cool shade of winding valleys.
Upon the broad shoulders of the Architectural profession rests the obligation
of capacity and opportunity. It can and must throw off the incubus of dull banality, of meaningless, soul-destroying, cheap, flimsy, commonplace in building, and lead the way to something like life, rational health, and beauty in the homes of the people. The simplest things, intelligently and sympathetically treated, may be made to take on an artistic form that reveals the inner sense of beauty.
More beautiful homes will exercise an unconscious, uplifting influence for good upon the whole community, especially upon the plastic minds of youth, and tend to make our coming citizens more refined, more self-respecting, more aspiring, and more worthy.
Gentlemen of the Ancient and Master Profession, we ask your cooperation in this good work. Think over the idea during the dog days; meet us half way when the competition is announced next month by the
Architectural Forum, and we believe that, together, we can mutually serve each other in helping to make our part of the world a more livable place of habitation.
We welcome criticisms and suggestions
The American Face Brick Association
1120 WESTMINSTER BUILDING • CHICAGO • ILLINOIS
of the Master Art
Begin to think about it now. Mull it over in your minds during the warm weather and then put it on the boards in the fall.
The American Face Brick Association wants to do more than to sell its product; it wants to encourage more substantial and attractive building throughout the country; it wants to further a better type of architecture where it is sadly needed in all our smaller communities.
As you architects are the only people who can accomplish this end, we are frankly asking your cooperation in a nationwide competition for the design of a small Face Brick house, such as would appeal to the average American of moderate means who wishes to build either in the small town or in the city environs.
The utilitas and firmitas of good old Vitruthus are, of course, prime conditions, but the key necessity of the competition must be his venustas, the attractive charm of artistic design. We are heartily tired of the chaos of blank ugliness in the form of small houses—and many large ones, too, for that matter — throughout our wellto-do and prosperous communities, where the entrancing forms of beauty are found only in clouds, trees, grass, and flowers; in blended harmonies of line and color of the wooded hills; or in the sinuous delights of lush verdure keeping step to the music of the brook through the cool shade of winding valleys.
Upon the broad shoulders of the Architectural profession rests the obligation
of capacity and opportunity. It can and must throw off the incubus of dull banality, of meaningless, soul-destroying, cheap, flimsy, commonplace in building, and lead the way to something like life, rational health, and beauty in the homes of the people. The simplest things, intelligently and sympathetically treated, may be made to take on an artistic form that reveals the inner sense of beauty.
More beautiful homes will exercise an unconscious, uplifting influence for good upon the whole community, especially upon the plastic minds of youth, and tend to make our coming citizens more refined, more self-respecting, more aspiring, and more worthy.
Gentlemen of the Ancient and Master Profession, we ask your cooperation in this good work. Think over the idea during the dog days; meet us half way when the competition is announced next month by the
Architectural Forum, and we believe that, together, we can mutually serve each other in helping to make our part of the world a more livable place of habitation.
We welcome criticisms and suggestions
The American Face Brick Association
1120 WESTMINSTER BUILDING • CHICAGO • ILLINOIS