of the first members of The Architecture. Club, and his suggestion at its first dinner, for erecting bridges with houses on them, caught the fancy of the public Press, and went echoing through the pages of contemporaries all over the world.
The Parisians appear to manage their bridge problem without the indulging in the prolonged and acrimonious controversies to which we are accustomed in London. It is interesting to note that the Pont de la Tournelle, which links the Ile de St. Louis with the south bank of the Seine, is now under reconstruction. Although the Ile is a comparatively quiet place by the standards of the day, the Pont de la Tournelle has been found unequal to the demands which modern traffic makes upon it. The new bridge will be of reinforced concrete — the first of this kind in Paris — and will have one low, simple span of 75 yards. There is, of course, no doubt that a structure so contrived may be a very graceful one, and the architects and engineers responsible are to be congratulated upon their bold innovating spirit. The only criticism of this adventure which immediately occurs to one is that there may be a rather too noticeable disparity of scale between this single-spanned bridge and its neighbours, all of which have a number of arches. It may be remembered that long before ferro-concrete construction reached its present state of efficiency Telford designed a single-spanned iron bridge for the Thames, and he established the desirability of the project as far as its engineering and financial aspects were concerned. It was found, however, that the approaches of the bridge needed to be upon too steep a slope for metropolitan traffic. A single-spanned bridge across the Thames in London where the width of the river is considerably greater than that of the Seine in Paris, unless it were to be on a very high level, would have such low haunches that cross-river traffic would need to be confined to the centre of the stream. Unfortunately, the oldfashioned bridge, with its graceful central arch taller than the lateral ones, can never be built again, unless traffic authorities abandon their present predilection for level roads. The Paris experiment will be watched with great interest by architects in this country, for it will provide them with a further opportunity of studying the æsthetics of bridge design.
The Earl of Berkeley’s famous Boar’s Hill Estate is to be developed for residential purposes. The domain covers some 600 acres, and the purchasers are a syndicate of local business men. Boar’s Hill, which is but three miles from Oxford, comprises an area which has already contained many small country residences belonging to colonies of dons and others connected with the University. And it is likely the occupants of the new houses on the Berkeley Estate will be mainly drawn from the “academic” class, who
will thus have another opportunity of setting an example in matters architectural. Judging, however, from the specimens of “villas” which have so far been erected on Boar’s Hill, we cannot permit ourselves to feel excessive confidence in the superiority of academic taste. Mr. and Mrs. Clough Williams
Ellis, in their book, ‘ ‘ The Pleasures of Architecture, ” give an amusing description of the type of house which has been favoured by the Oxford dons who have erected dwellings for themselves in this locality. Rampant individualism characterises these houses, whose discordant prettiness spoil the country-side. But this was before the War. It may be hoped, therefore, that the general improvement in domestic architecture which has taken place during the last twenty years will find reflection in the new estate. All lovers of Oxford are entitled to expect that building develop
ment in such a locality will result in an orderly layout of pleasant and gracious houses.
The news that the citizens of New York are about to be presented with yet another skyscraper would not at this time of day cause any great sensation, but when we learn that the new building is to be a prison, we cannot help reflecting upon the extraordinary suitability of the form of the structure to its social function. It is even possible that the person who first thought of the idea of accommodating a woman’s house of detention in a skyscraper will go down to history as the man of genius responsible for giving to this renowned architectural form its only logical raison d’être. For there can be no doubt that the skyscraper gives perfect expression to the concept of a modern prison, an hygienic reformatory where the inmates are encouraged to enjoy the purifying influences of sunlight and fresh air, but may on no account leave the place of their abode. And not only does it express the ideal of hygiene, but the other and less pleasant element in prison routine, the restriction of movement to an enclosed and limited area is admirably indicated by the configuration of the building, most of whose occupants are lifted so high above ground level that they cannot possibly escape from their confinement. We learn that the basement will contain a gymnasium, where, presumably, the prisoners will be under the strictest supervision, and will have no opportunity of ascending to ground level; the three lower floors will be occupied by administration, and from the fourth to the tenth floors will be “detention floors. ” Misdemeanour cases will be housed on the fourth floor, and drug addicts on the fifth, care being taken that first offenders are separated from more hardened criminals. It is apparent, therefore, that the division of prison quarters into a number of separate and self-contained floors is an aid to administration, and we have yet more evidence of the extreme suitability of the skyscraper for the particular social function here allotted to it. The hospital will occupy floor eleven, and the roof will offer recreation facilities — under conditions which are very proper to the persons of the peculiar class and status enjoying the facilities in question. Only one disturbing thought will occur to the reader of the foregoing description. If the skyscraper form is so perfectly adapted for the purpose of a prison, can it logically be employed for any other purpose?
Competition News
Edinburgh
A competition for designs for the large new buildings to be erected at Merchiston for the George Watson’s Boys’ College is to be held shortly by the Governors of the school. The present school has been sold to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and will necessitate the erection of a complete new institution at a cost of £200, 000. Mr. John Keppie, F. R. I. B. A., 257 West George Street, Glasgow, has been appointed as assessor.
Southport
The Town Council is to invite competitive designs for a semi-open-air type of school, for 450 senior pupils, at Birkdale.
Herne Bay
Designs are invited for a composite building containing municipal offices, assembly hall and business premises. Professor A. E. Richardson, F. S. A., F. R. I. B. A., is the assessor.
Conditions of the competition and site plan may be obtained from Mr. G. H. Beetenson, Clerk to the Council, Westminster Bank House, Herne Bay. Designs must be sent in by October 10, 1927.
The Parisians appear to manage their bridge problem without the indulging in the prolonged and acrimonious controversies to which we are accustomed in London. It is interesting to note that the Pont de la Tournelle, which links the Ile de St. Louis with the south bank of the Seine, is now under reconstruction. Although the Ile is a comparatively quiet place by the standards of the day, the Pont de la Tournelle has been found unequal to the demands which modern traffic makes upon it. The new bridge will be of reinforced concrete — the first of this kind in Paris — and will have one low, simple span of 75 yards. There is, of course, no doubt that a structure so contrived may be a very graceful one, and the architects and engineers responsible are to be congratulated upon their bold innovating spirit. The only criticism of this adventure which immediately occurs to one is that there may be a rather too noticeable disparity of scale between this single-spanned bridge and its neighbours, all of which have a number of arches. It may be remembered that long before ferro-concrete construction reached its present state of efficiency Telford designed a single-spanned iron bridge for the Thames, and he established the desirability of the project as far as its engineering and financial aspects were concerned. It was found, however, that the approaches of the bridge needed to be upon too steep a slope for metropolitan traffic. A single-spanned bridge across the Thames in London where the width of the river is considerably greater than that of the Seine in Paris, unless it were to be on a very high level, would have such low haunches that cross-river traffic would need to be confined to the centre of the stream. Unfortunately, the oldfashioned bridge, with its graceful central arch taller than the lateral ones, can never be built again, unless traffic authorities abandon their present predilection for level roads. The Paris experiment will be watched with great interest by architects in this country, for it will provide them with a further opportunity of studying the æsthetics of bridge design.
The Earl of Berkeley’s famous Boar’s Hill Estate is to be developed for residential purposes. The domain covers some 600 acres, and the purchasers are a syndicate of local business men. Boar’s Hill, which is but three miles from Oxford, comprises an area which has already contained many small country residences belonging to colonies of dons and others connected with the University. And it is likely the occupants of the new houses on the Berkeley Estate will be mainly drawn from the “academic” class, who
will thus have another opportunity of setting an example in matters architectural. Judging, however, from the specimens of “villas” which have so far been erected on Boar’s Hill, we cannot permit ourselves to feel excessive confidence in the superiority of academic taste. Mr. and Mrs. Clough Williams
Ellis, in their book, ‘ ‘ The Pleasures of Architecture, ” give an amusing description of the type of house which has been favoured by the Oxford dons who have erected dwellings for themselves in this locality. Rampant individualism characterises these houses, whose discordant prettiness spoil the country-side. But this was before the War. It may be hoped, therefore, that the general improvement in domestic architecture which has taken place during the last twenty years will find reflection in the new estate. All lovers of Oxford are entitled to expect that building develop
ment in such a locality will result in an orderly layout of pleasant and gracious houses.
The news that the citizens of New York are about to be presented with yet another skyscraper would not at this time of day cause any great sensation, but when we learn that the new building is to be a prison, we cannot help reflecting upon the extraordinary suitability of the form of the structure to its social function. It is even possible that the person who first thought of the idea of accommodating a woman’s house of detention in a skyscraper will go down to history as the man of genius responsible for giving to this renowned architectural form its only logical raison d’être. For there can be no doubt that the skyscraper gives perfect expression to the concept of a modern prison, an hygienic reformatory where the inmates are encouraged to enjoy the purifying influences of sunlight and fresh air, but may on no account leave the place of their abode. And not only does it express the ideal of hygiene, but the other and less pleasant element in prison routine, the restriction of movement to an enclosed and limited area is admirably indicated by the configuration of the building, most of whose occupants are lifted so high above ground level that they cannot possibly escape from their confinement. We learn that the basement will contain a gymnasium, where, presumably, the prisoners will be under the strictest supervision, and will have no opportunity of ascending to ground level; the three lower floors will be occupied by administration, and from the fourth to the tenth floors will be “detention floors. ” Misdemeanour cases will be housed on the fourth floor, and drug addicts on the fifth, care being taken that first offenders are separated from more hardened criminals. It is apparent, therefore, that the division of prison quarters into a number of separate and self-contained floors is an aid to administration, and we have yet more evidence of the extreme suitability of the skyscraper for the particular social function here allotted to it. The hospital will occupy floor eleven, and the roof will offer recreation facilities — under conditions which are very proper to the persons of the peculiar class and status enjoying the facilities in question. Only one disturbing thought will occur to the reader of the foregoing description. If the skyscraper form is so perfectly adapted for the purpose of a prison, can it logically be employed for any other purpose?
Competition News
Edinburgh
A competition for designs for the large new buildings to be erected at Merchiston for the George Watson’s Boys’ College is to be held shortly by the Governors of the school. The present school has been sold to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and will necessitate the erection of a complete new institution at a cost of £200, 000. Mr. John Keppie, F. R. I. B. A., 257 West George Street, Glasgow, has been appointed as assessor.
Southport
The Town Council is to invite competitive designs for a semi-open-air type of school, for 450 senior pupils, at Birkdale.
Herne Bay
Designs are invited for a composite building containing municipal offices, assembly hall and business premises. Professor A. E. Richardson, F. S. A., F. R. I. B. A., is the assessor.
Conditions of the competition and site plan may be obtained from Mr. G. H. Beetenson, Clerk to the Council, Westminster Bank House, Herne Bay. Designs must be sent in by October 10, 1927.