The election of William H. Crocker, Editor of The American Architect, as an Honorary Associate Member of the New York Chapter of The American Institute of Architects, as proposed by the executive committee of the Chapter, was carried by a unanimous vote at the luncheon meeting of the Chapter, held on January 11, 1928. This honor was conferred “in recognition of the distinguished services that have been rendered to The American Institute of Architects and the architectural profession. ” Election as an Honorary Associate Member of the New York Chapter is shared by only three others. These are Charles M. Schwab, President of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Robert Weeks De Forest, President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and George McAneny, American Civic Administrator and Past President of the Board of Aldermen of New York City.
Just as distant fields always look the greenest, so architects in various sections of the country are apt to view the architectural accomplishments of distant cities with respect to their own with envious eyes. Domestic architecture in California has perhaps not always received the appreciation that it deserves. It is, therefore, interesting to obtain from an observing eastern practitioner his impressions of the work being accomplished on the west coast. The article by Dwight James Baum presented in this issue is timely and filled with pleasant recollections of the author’s trip through California. Photographs used to illustrate the article were taken by Mr. Baum. These as well as other photographs by Mr. Baum that have been published in The American Architect bear witness to his ability as a photographer as well as an architect.
The sketches by Samuel Chamberlain reproduced in this issue only serve to indicate the versatility of this artist, for while no one familiar with Chamberlain’s work could mistake their authorship they are, in character, a departure from the type of drawings made by Chamberlain that have been published in recent years. One of the reasons for the success of this artist has been his ability to draw correctly and in a convincing manner without loss in either freedom of movement or warmth in values. Chamberlain has an unusual appreciation of white space, economy of line and interest derived from contrasting light and dark areas. We are confident that the future sketches from Chamberlain’s pencil, pen and brush to be published in THE AMERICAN ARCHITECT will be as enthusiastically received as have been those illustrated in the past.
The annual exhibition of The Architectural League of New York is always recognized by The American Architect as an event of the utmost importance in architectural circles. As already announced in this magazine, the exhibition will open this year on February 2 at the galleries of the Fine Arts Building. The February 5 issue of The American Architect will be devoted almost exclusively to illustrating the finest specimens of work exhibited in architecture and the allied arts. Now that the League is in possession of its own building, membership has increased enormously and the exhibition, too, is expected to surpass in the quality of work on view anything held in the past. The awarding of medals in architecture and the allied arts is always eagerly anticipated, and this year is no exception to the rule in this respect.
The work of Public Utility Corporations does not end with the furnishing of heat, light, and power, but must also include many items of service not specifically contracted for by patrons. The railroads, telephone companies and many others that serve the public cannot afford merely to carry passengers and freight, or establish communicating service; they must also serve their patrons in many other ways with respect to convenience, comfort, speed and with practically uninterrupted service. Publishers are in a similar position for the mere matter of publishing and editing a newspaper or other publication as well as they know how and issuing it promptly cannot be looked upon as an end. They must serve their readers to a much greater extent and serve them well.
Requests for information that come to our desk are numerous and varied. Perhaps it is data on a particular kind of plaster or paint. Again, an architect desires information on theatrical equipment, or a revolving stage, a dance floor on springs, an expert on acoustics, an architectural renderer, or construction of swimming pools. One of the unusual requests that recently reached us was for the name of a manufacturer of a device that registers at some remote point in a building the movement of a weathervane on the roof. We confess that up to that time we had never heard of a device of this kind. Within twenty-four hours, however, we furnished the originator of the inquiry with the names of two manufacturers. The device made by one firm operates mechanically and the other electrically. We were also able to give the location of an installation of each type. We believe that this is a good example of efficient service.
Just as distant fields always look the greenest, so architects in various sections of the country are apt to view the architectural accomplishments of distant cities with respect to their own with envious eyes. Domestic architecture in California has perhaps not always received the appreciation that it deserves. It is, therefore, interesting to obtain from an observing eastern practitioner his impressions of the work being accomplished on the west coast. The article by Dwight James Baum presented in this issue is timely and filled with pleasant recollections of the author’s trip through California. Photographs used to illustrate the article were taken by Mr. Baum. These as well as other photographs by Mr. Baum that have been published in The American Architect bear witness to his ability as a photographer as well as an architect.
The sketches by Samuel Chamberlain reproduced in this issue only serve to indicate the versatility of this artist, for while no one familiar with Chamberlain’s work could mistake their authorship they are, in character, a departure from the type of drawings made by Chamberlain that have been published in recent years. One of the reasons for the success of this artist has been his ability to draw correctly and in a convincing manner without loss in either freedom of movement or warmth in values. Chamberlain has an unusual appreciation of white space, economy of line and interest derived from contrasting light and dark areas. We are confident that the future sketches from Chamberlain’s pencil, pen and brush to be published in THE AMERICAN ARCHITECT will be as enthusiastically received as have been those illustrated in the past.
The annual exhibition of The Architectural League of New York is always recognized by The American Architect as an event of the utmost importance in architectural circles. As already announced in this magazine, the exhibition will open this year on February 2 at the galleries of the Fine Arts Building. The February 5 issue of The American Architect will be devoted almost exclusively to illustrating the finest specimens of work exhibited in architecture and the allied arts. Now that the League is in possession of its own building, membership has increased enormously and the exhibition, too, is expected to surpass in the quality of work on view anything held in the past. The awarding of medals in architecture and the allied arts is always eagerly anticipated, and this year is no exception to the rule in this respect.
The work of Public Utility Corporations does not end with the furnishing of heat, light, and power, but must also include many items of service not specifically contracted for by patrons. The railroads, telephone companies and many others that serve the public cannot afford merely to carry passengers and freight, or establish communicating service; they must also serve their patrons in many other ways with respect to convenience, comfort, speed and with practically uninterrupted service. Publishers are in a similar position for the mere matter of publishing and editing a newspaper or other publication as well as they know how and issuing it promptly cannot be looked upon as an end. They must serve their readers to a much greater extent and serve them well.
Requests for information that come to our desk are numerous and varied. Perhaps it is data on a particular kind of plaster or paint. Again, an architect desires information on theatrical equipment, or a revolving stage, a dance floor on springs, an expert on acoustics, an architectural renderer, or construction of swimming pools. One of the unusual requests that recently reached us was for the name of a manufacturer of a device that registers at some remote point in a building the movement of a weathervane on the roof. We confess that up to that time we had never heard of a device of this kind. Within twenty-four hours, however, we furnished the originator of the inquiry with the names of two manufacturers. The device made by one firm operates mechanically and the other electrically. We were also able to give the location of an installation of each type. We believe that this is a good example of efficient service.