by Fred Schlipf, Urbana, IL, USA
AV Fred Schlipf has created four designs for the set # 12 (four boxes, 499 stones). The "apartment house with three flats and a basement", is to me (a New Yorker) a brownstone. While many brownstones are now divided into apartments (I lived in one between 1958 and 1959, while I was going to U of Pa.), these buildings were constructed as single family residences during the late 1800s and early 1900s in many eastern cities. They were ofte row houses, without side windows. Corner lots were more valuable because they allowed windows on one side. Usually the kitchen was in the basement and there was a dumb waiter to move the food to the first and second floors. An arrangement which works well only if one has household help. The dimensions were determined by the lot size, often 25 feet wide.
The front and right side of the brownstone. Note that the "curb level"
is two stones high, and windows are shown along the side. In the old
days, one of the windows would be a coal shoot, so coal could be dropped
directly into the coal bin. The stairs going down went to a service
entrance.
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In the rear there was a back yard, often 25 × 25. It was always
fenced; a great palce for small children to play. The porch was wooden,
which is shown by the use of yellow stones.
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A view of the roof.
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A better look at the front doors.
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A close-up look at the stairs going down to the basement.
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A close-up look at the back porch.
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