Side by Side

Modern and traditional architecture came slam-bang into dramatic contrast last week between the covers of LIFE. On eleven double-page spreads appeared eight plans for houses, four by "modern"' architects arrayed against four by "traditional"' architects, each pair designed to meet the needs and income of an actual U. S. family. By this presentation LIFE hoped: 1) to inform its readers of how easily any family earning from $2,000 to $10,000 a year can build an efficient, pleasant home; 2) to poll its readers on the relative popularity of the two types of home building.

After researching four representative U. S. families, LIFE invited top-flight architects to draw plans for them. From a lay point of view all eight houses appeared eminently practical and livable,* but in looks the moderns seemed to excel.

Traditionalist Edward Koch and Modernist Edward D. Stone split the honors in their designs for the Ramsey family of Atlanta (income $2,000 to $3,000), Mr. Koch providing a house with charm and Mr. Stone venturing one with imagination.

The going became tough for Tradition in the plans for the Calvert family of Los Angeles (income $3,000 to $4,000), for whom Modernist William Wilson Wurster's graceful patio house out-pointed Traditionalist H. Roy Kelley's "California Colonial." A walkaway for the moderns was provided by Frank Lloyd Wright's design for the Blackbourn family of Minneapolis (income $5,000 to $6,000), which reduced the merit of Royal Barry Wills's design to that of a safe investment. For the Smiths of Wyncote, Pa. (income $10,000 to $12,000), Aymar Embury's spacious Colonial house appeared as dignified as all get-out, Harrison & Fouilhoux's severely glass-walled house as daring as the devil.

The "one-third of a nation," whose average income falls under $2,000, was out of this picture entirely. LIFE'S argument: new and decent housing for these families cannot, in general, be privately financed but must be a public job.

* In its November issue a technical analysis of the work of LIFE'S eight architects will be undertaken by THE ARCHITECTURAL FORUM.

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