A manual of face brick construction

Doorway of Face Brick Cottage, Chicago. Designed by J. Scheller

American Face Brick Association 110 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET CHICAGO
Copyright 1920 by John H. Black for A. F. B. A.


No man has more reason to feel pride and satisfaction in his art than the builder. From the time when men wove together branches of trees or piled up loose stones and mud for shelter to the present day, when they erect huge heaven-soaring structures of steel to house a multitude, the builder has played a most important part in the progress and development of human civilization.
Fundamentals of Building
The old Roman authority on architecture, Vitruvius, long ago laid down the three fundamentals of all good building, viz., firmness , utility , and charm . In working for firmness (strength, durability) and for utility (serviceableness, convenience), the builder, we might say, is an engineer; in seeking to give charm (attractiveness, beauty) to his work, he is an artist. In other words, the builder always has before him structural and artistic problems which, aside from his wit in planning the inner conveniences and serviceableness of the house, depend largely upon the material he chooses to work in. To what extent does this material meet the structural requirements of strength, permanence, durability, and to what extent the artistic requirements of attractiveness, charm, beauty, are the main issues.
Aim of This Book