Correspondence
Architectural Competitions for Schools To the Editor of The Architect and Building News.
Sir, — I was much interested in Mr. Bernard Widdows’ letter on this subject, which appeared in your issue of October 7. Whilst I do not agree with all Mr. Widdows’ contentions, I think his suggestion of a panel, which shall consist partly of laymen, is excellent, and one which might be applied to all competitions, and not only to competitions for schools. From time to time I have heard very strong complaints from the promoters of building schemes as to the present competition system.
The R. I. B. A. has very rightly tightened up the necessary conditions, so that any promoter of a building scheme who wishes to get the benefit of a variety of designs by different architects for a comparatively small outlay, is now forced by the profession to observe very strict conditions.
I do not think the fault is that the conditions are too strict so much as that in their working out they tend to exclude the promoters from having any real voice in their own building.
When we come to detail, I think Mr. Widdows’ suggestion as to the actual number of laymen would be to over-weight the architectural opinion unduly. My own suggestion is that, in addition to the ordinary professional assessor, there should be two laymen on the jury, one representing the promoters and one representing the technical aspect of the building required: for instance, supposing a local authority wished to erect a hospital, there would be the architect assessor, the chairman or mayor of the local authority, and a doctor who would advise on the purely technical requirements. These three would, I suggest, form a panel, the final decision being in the hands of the professional assessor. —Yours faithfully,
Stanley C. Ramsey. Professional Societies
R. I. B. A.
The 1927-28 session of the Royal Institute of British Architects will open on Monday, November 7, when Mr. Walter Tapper, A. R. A., the new President, will deliver his inaugural address at the Institute, 9 Conduit Street, W. 1, at 8. 30 p. m. At this meeting the London Street Architectural Medal, 1926, will be presented to Mr. Hubert Lidbetter, A. R. I. B. A., for his Society of Friends building in Euston Road.
On October 31 Mr. Harvey W. Corbett, F. R. I. B. A., of New York, will give a special lecture at the R. I. B. A., at 8 p. m., on the latest American Building Methods, illustrated by some very interesting lantern slides. All architects, builders, building operatives and others who are interested in the subject are invited to attend.
(Archibald Dawnay) Scholarships
In accordance with the terms of the will of the late Sir Archibald Dawnay, the Royal Institute of British Architects have awarded one scholarship of £75 for the academical year 1927-1928 to Mr. G. R. Beveridge, of the School of Architecture, the Architectural Association, and one scholarship of £60 for the academical year, 1927-28, to Mr. W. G. Plant, of the School of Architecture, University of Liverpool. Miss C. W. Preston, of the School of Architecture, the Architectural Association, who was awarded a scholarship of £75 for the academical year 1926-1927, has been granted a renewal of her scholarship for the year 1927-1928.
The scholarships are intended to foster the advanced study of construction and the improvement generally
of constructional methods and materials and their influence on design.
The Incorporated Association of Architects and Surveyors
The Association inaugurates its new headquarters, No. 1 Wilbraham Place, Sloane Street, S. W. l, tomorrow, Saturday, October 22, the opening ceremony taking place at 11 a. m. In celebration of the event a “souvenir” has been issued containing an
illustrated description of the new quarters, also a statement of the origin and policy of the Association, its objects, and its attitude towards the R. I. B. A. The Association will give its second annual dinner and dance at the Hotel Cecil the same evening.
Competition News
The Alexander Thomson Travelling Studentship
The competition for the above is open to students of architecture between the ages of 19 and 28 years, residing in the United Kingdom and Southern Ireland. Copies of the conditions may be obtained on application to Mr. William MacLean, Secretary, Glasgow Institute of Architects, 21 West George Street, Glasgow, C. 2.
Newport (Mon. )
The Newport Parliamentary and Market Committee have decided to offer a prize to architects for the best scheme for the improvement of High Street and the solution of the market problem.
Wimbledon
Designs for the town hall and municipal buildings which it is proposed to erect on a site in The Broadway, Wimbledon, must be received by Mr. H. Emerson Smith, LL. B., Town Clerk, on or before November 30.
Peterborough
The Town Council invite designs for new municipal buildings, with shops beneath, to cost not more than £200, 000, to be erected in Narrow Street. Sir Reginald Blomfield, F. R. I. B. A., is the assessor, and premiums of £500, £250, and £150 are to be awarded for the best designs.
Design for Concrete Houses.
The Portland Cement Selling and Distributing Co., Ltd., are instituting a competition for the best designs of concrete houses. The President of the R. I. B. A. has appointed as assessors Mr. Maxwell Ayrton, Mr. W. E. Riley, and Mr. Douglas G. Tanner, and prizes totalling £1, 000 will be awarded. By arrangement with the Daily Mail, the prize-winning houses will be erected and be on exhibition— completely furnished and equipped — at the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition at Olympia in March, 1928. Designs must be submitted by December 15, and particulars can be obtained from the Secretary, Concrete House Competition, 20 Buckingham Gate, S. W. l.
Two different types of house require to be planned. A, costing £1, 750, and B, costing £750. In A, diningroom, sitting-room, kitchen offices and not less than four bedrooms, besides a garage, must be provided; and in B, sitting-room, living-room, small scullery and three bedrooms. An important condition is that the external faces of the concrete must not be treated with cement rendering or other covering or paint, although colour may be incorporated in the actual cement if desired. Thus an attempt is here being made to experiment with the surface effects and properties of ferro-concrete, and the competition should have results of very great interest to architects.
Architectural Competitions for Schools To the Editor of The Architect and Building News.
Sir, — I was much interested in Mr. Bernard Widdows’ letter on this subject, which appeared in your issue of October 7. Whilst I do not agree with all Mr. Widdows’ contentions, I think his suggestion of a panel, which shall consist partly of laymen, is excellent, and one which might be applied to all competitions, and not only to competitions for schools. From time to time I have heard very strong complaints from the promoters of building schemes as to the present competition system.
The R. I. B. A. has very rightly tightened up the necessary conditions, so that any promoter of a building scheme who wishes to get the benefit of a variety of designs by different architects for a comparatively small outlay, is now forced by the profession to observe very strict conditions.
I do not think the fault is that the conditions are too strict so much as that in their working out they tend to exclude the promoters from having any real voice in their own building.
When we come to detail, I think Mr. Widdows’ suggestion as to the actual number of laymen would be to over-weight the architectural opinion unduly. My own suggestion is that, in addition to the ordinary professional assessor, there should be two laymen on the jury, one representing the promoters and one representing the technical aspect of the building required: for instance, supposing a local authority wished to erect a hospital, there would be the architect assessor, the chairman or mayor of the local authority, and a doctor who would advise on the purely technical requirements. These three would, I suggest, form a panel, the final decision being in the hands of the professional assessor. —Yours faithfully,
Stanley C. Ramsey. Professional Societies
R. I. B. A.
The 1927-28 session of the Royal Institute of British Architects will open on Monday, November 7, when Mr. Walter Tapper, A. R. A., the new President, will deliver his inaugural address at the Institute, 9 Conduit Street, W. 1, at 8. 30 p. m. At this meeting the London Street Architectural Medal, 1926, will be presented to Mr. Hubert Lidbetter, A. R. I. B. A., for his Society of Friends building in Euston Road.
On October 31 Mr. Harvey W. Corbett, F. R. I. B. A., of New York, will give a special lecture at the R. I. B. A., at 8 p. m., on the latest American Building Methods, illustrated by some very interesting lantern slides. All architects, builders, building operatives and others who are interested in the subject are invited to attend.
(Archibald Dawnay) Scholarships
In accordance with the terms of the will of the late Sir Archibald Dawnay, the Royal Institute of British Architects have awarded one scholarship of £75 for the academical year 1927-1928 to Mr. G. R. Beveridge, of the School of Architecture, the Architectural Association, and one scholarship of £60 for the academical year, 1927-28, to Mr. W. G. Plant, of the School of Architecture, University of Liverpool. Miss C. W. Preston, of the School of Architecture, the Architectural Association, who was awarded a scholarship of £75 for the academical year 1926-1927, has been granted a renewal of her scholarship for the year 1927-1928.
The scholarships are intended to foster the advanced study of construction and the improvement generally
of constructional methods and materials and their influence on design.
The Incorporated Association of Architects and Surveyors
The Association inaugurates its new headquarters, No. 1 Wilbraham Place, Sloane Street, S. W. l, tomorrow, Saturday, October 22, the opening ceremony taking place at 11 a. m. In celebration of the event a “souvenir” has been issued containing an
illustrated description of the new quarters, also a statement of the origin and policy of the Association, its objects, and its attitude towards the R. I. B. A. The Association will give its second annual dinner and dance at the Hotel Cecil the same evening.
Competition News
The Alexander Thomson Travelling Studentship
The competition for the above is open to students of architecture between the ages of 19 and 28 years, residing in the United Kingdom and Southern Ireland. Copies of the conditions may be obtained on application to Mr. William MacLean, Secretary, Glasgow Institute of Architects, 21 West George Street, Glasgow, C. 2.
Newport (Mon. )
The Newport Parliamentary and Market Committee have decided to offer a prize to architects for the best scheme for the improvement of High Street and the solution of the market problem.
Wimbledon
Designs for the town hall and municipal buildings which it is proposed to erect on a site in The Broadway, Wimbledon, must be received by Mr. H. Emerson Smith, LL. B., Town Clerk, on or before November 30.
Peterborough
The Town Council invite designs for new municipal buildings, with shops beneath, to cost not more than £200, 000, to be erected in Narrow Street. Sir Reginald Blomfield, F. R. I. B. A., is the assessor, and premiums of £500, £250, and £150 are to be awarded for the best designs.
Design for Concrete Houses.
The Portland Cement Selling and Distributing Co., Ltd., are instituting a competition for the best designs of concrete houses. The President of the R. I. B. A. has appointed as assessors Mr. Maxwell Ayrton, Mr. W. E. Riley, and Mr. Douglas G. Tanner, and prizes totalling £1, 000 will be awarded. By arrangement with the Daily Mail, the prize-winning houses will be erected and be on exhibition— completely furnished and equipped — at the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition at Olympia in March, 1928. Designs must be submitted by December 15, and particulars can be obtained from the Secretary, Concrete House Competition, 20 Buckingham Gate, S. W. l.
Two different types of house require to be planned. A, costing £1, 750, and B, costing £750. In A, diningroom, sitting-room, kitchen offices and not less than four bedrooms, besides a garage, must be provided; and in B, sitting-room, living-room, small scullery and three bedrooms. An important condition is that the external faces of the concrete must not be treated with cement rendering or other covering or paint, although colour may be incorporated in the actual cement if desired. Thus an attempt is here being made to experiment with the surface effects and properties of ferro-concrete, and the competition should have results of very great interest to architects.