CORRESPONDENCE
The City of Towers
To the Editor of The Architect and Building News.
Sir,—I read with interest Mr. Edward Unwin’s comment on the article which I wrote on Mr. Raymond Hood’s suggestions.
I have given a copy of Mr. Unwin’s letter to Mr. Hood, who unfortunately was just on the point of returning to the United States, but I have hopes that he will comment upon it later.
From verbal comments of Mr. Hood’s I gather that he is not in agreement with Mr. Unwin’s remarks with regard to elevators. Mr. Unwin suggests definite limitations to the heights of buildings due to the elevator problem, but it is difficult to feel perfectly convinced that such apparent limitations will not he overcome. Apparently the tall building is still a very practicable proposition: the Book Tower in Detroit is 80 storeys high and the proposed Larkin Building in New York was to have been considerably taller than that. Not very many years ago the elevator problem for such buildings as these would have been considered insoluable, but engineering science makes such rapid strides that no one can definitely lay down limitations. It is not for me to make suggestions, but even such a thing as a two-decker elevator is not beyond the range of possibility.
As regards the traffic difficulties. It does not necessarily follow that all the ground gained by the adoption of towers would be devoted to street area, but even if this were the case there is no reason to believe that the problem of handling very many lines of traffic could not be solved. The delay at the crossings, for instance, might conceivably be overcome by an extension of the round-about system. In other words there would be main crossing centres and small centres would be spaced or crossings permitted only at stated intervals. In addition, the wide traffic avenues may be so arranged that they contain permanent parking spaces for cars: an extremely important point as, with our present streets, even when they are fairly wide, the available area is enormously reduced by parked vehicles. It seems a little unfair to suppose that with streets, say, twice as wide, the congestion would be as great as at present, and therefore it is conceivable that traffic arrangements might be worked more rapidly and smoothly. Once the space is provided the organisation of the space seems feasible.
I am not in a position to argue with any weight on Mr. Hood’s proposals, but experience seems to show that the first objections raised to schemes of this kind can often be overcome by a careful development, provided that the basis for the proposal has a fair element of logic, which seems to me to be the case here. 1 can only hope that Mr. Hood himself will be able to reply to Mr. Unwin’s interesting criticism.
Yours faithfully,
Howard Robertson,
36 Bedford Square, W.C.I.
Deterioration of Fine Wood
To the Editor, The Architect & Building News.
Sir,—I take the liberty of sending you a few samples of wood taken from separate beams which have deteriorated, and I would be pleased if you would let me know what the disease is, and what in your opinion wmuld be the remedy fo prevent it taking place.—Yours faithfully,
P. Reilly, Secretary. Co. Council Office, Court House, Cavan.
[The samples of wTood submitted are pieces of pine sapwood tunnelled by the common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum). This beetle lays its eggs in chinks, cracks and crevices in various timbers, and the grubs or worms hatching from the eggs tunnel
into the wood, often seriously honeycombing it. Not infrequently this beetle and its grubs are associated with Dry Rot and other fungi, and in the present instance fungal decay is also present.
The remedies for furniture beetle are numerous, but it should be pointed out that only repeated treatment of infested timber with a reliable insecticide or wood preservative is of any real value.
Of the many substances available for treating wood, apart from such substance as creosote, which discolours the wood, petrol, paraffin and turpentine are the cheapest and most efficient; but recently a substance known as Ortho-di-chlor benzene has been used with success. It can be obtained from most chemists. —J. W. M.]
[Note.—We are always glad to assist readers when possible with expert opinion on matters of technical detail or difficulty. On account of pressure on our space, and the fact that most of the enquiries received are of individual rather than general interest, it is our ride to send the replies by post and not publish them in our columns. We reserve the right, however, to publish replies on any matter, as in the case above, that appear to us to be of value to readers generally.1—Ed.]
Westminster Abbey
To the Editor of The Architect and Building News.
As regards the proposed addition to Westminster Abbey, there is no architect in the world who could do the work. The Spirit that inspired such works has gone, the art is lost; look at St. Alban’s Abbey, for instance.
Is there anyone who would have the impudence of suggesting an alteration to the Parthenon or an improvement in a picture by any of the Masters?—I am, yours faithfully,
Thos. M. Deane, B.A. Penmaenmawr, N. Wales.
The Doric Column
To the Editor of The Architect and Building News. Sir,—I have followed with interest the controversy
in your columns with regard to the teaching of the Orders, and particularly a recent letter in reply to “ Student.” I have duly noted the literary style of the letter, and its provocative excellence. Might I be allowed to take up. the cudgels for a moment on behalf of the ‘ ‘ die-hard ’ ’ method ?
Your correspondent has, it appears, suffered much from the Doric Order—griefs comparable to those we bore, in early youth from the multiplication-table, five-finger exercises and Latin verbs! Such are growing pains. But behold us proudly on the threshold of our profession, and plunged again into a similar drudgery. We may well ask—Can beauty be lassoed with a tape, measure? When we have committed the Doric Order to paper in terms of modules, and parts, are we any nearer to the secrets of the Parthenon? What have we gained besides self-discipline and a sense of virtue? I maintain that you cannot master the perfection of that outline without training your sense of beauty. Turn modules and parts into feet and inches, you have a scale to work to—in the same terms in which you yourself are destined to work. The mistake is probably that there it generally stops, and the Doric Order, is next begun, to stop again at the vital part. The whole form must be visualised—and that takes trouble and imagination and a little knowledge. It is not enough to study the Cap in the British Museum, fine though that is—or the frieze, or even the Elgin Marbles— seen as they are close to the eye. Study these things
(Continued on p. 814.)
The City of Towers
To the Editor of The Architect and Building News.
Sir,—I read with interest Mr. Edward Unwin’s comment on the article which I wrote on Mr. Raymond Hood’s suggestions.
I have given a copy of Mr. Unwin’s letter to Mr. Hood, who unfortunately was just on the point of returning to the United States, but I have hopes that he will comment upon it later.
From verbal comments of Mr. Hood’s I gather that he is not in agreement with Mr. Unwin’s remarks with regard to elevators. Mr. Unwin suggests definite limitations to the heights of buildings due to the elevator problem, but it is difficult to feel perfectly convinced that such apparent limitations will not he overcome. Apparently the tall building is still a very practicable proposition: the Book Tower in Detroit is 80 storeys high and the proposed Larkin Building in New York was to have been considerably taller than that. Not very many years ago the elevator problem for such buildings as these would have been considered insoluable, but engineering science makes such rapid strides that no one can definitely lay down limitations. It is not for me to make suggestions, but even such a thing as a two-decker elevator is not beyond the range of possibility.
As regards the traffic difficulties. It does not necessarily follow that all the ground gained by the adoption of towers would be devoted to street area, but even if this were the case there is no reason to believe that the problem of handling very many lines of traffic could not be solved. The delay at the crossings, for instance, might conceivably be overcome by an extension of the round-about system. In other words there would be main crossing centres and small centres would be spaced or crossings permitted only at stated intervals. In addition, the wide traffic avenues may be so arranged that they contain permanent parking spaces for cars: an extremely important point as, with our present streets, even when they are fairly wide, the available area is enormously reduced by parked vehicles. It seems a little unfair to suppose that with streets, say, twice as wide, the congestion would be as great as at present, and therefore it is conceivable that traffic arrangements might be worked more rapidly and smoothly. Once the space is provided the organisation of the space seems feasible.
I am not in a position to argue with any weight on Mr. Hood’s proposals, but experience seems to show that the first objections raised to schemes of this kind can often be overcome by a careful development, provided that the basis for the proposal has a fair element of logic, which seems to me to be the case here. 1 can only hope that Mr. Hood himself will be able to reply to Mr. Unwin’s interesting criticism.
Yours faithfully,
Howard Robertson,
36 Bedford Square, W.C.I.
Deterioration of Fine Wood
To the Editor, The Architect & Building News.
Sir,—I take the liberty of sending you a few samples of wood taken from separate beams which have deteriorated, and I would be pleased if you would let me know what the disease is, and what in your opinion wmuld be the remedy fo prevent it taking place.—Yours faithfully,
P. Reilly, Secretary. Co. Council Office, Court House, Cavan.
[The samples of wTood submitted are pieces of pine sapwood tunnelled by the common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum). This beetle lays its eggs in chinks, cracks and crevices in various timbers, and the grubs or worms hatching from the eggs tunnel
into the wood, often seriously honeycombing it. Not infrequently this beetle and its grubs are associated with Dry Rot and other fungi, and in the present instance fungal decay is also present.
The remedies for furniture beetle are numerous, but it should be pointed out that only repeated treatment of infested timber with a reliable insecticide or wood preservative is of any real value.
Of the many substances available for treating wood, apart from such substance as creosote, which discolours the wood, petrol, paraffin and turpentine are the cheapest and most efficient; but recently a substance known as Ortho-di-chlor benzene has been used with success. It can be obtained from most chemists. —J. W. M.]
[Note.—We are always glad to assist readers when possible with expert opinion on matters of technical detail or difficulty. On account of pressure on our space, and the fact that most of the enquiries received are of individual rather than general interest, it is our ride to send the replies by post and not publish them in our columns. We reserve the right, however, to publish replies on any matter, as in the case above, that appear to us to be of value to readers generally.1—Ed.]
Westminster Abbey
To the Editor of The Architect and Building News.
As regards the proposed addition to Westminster Abbey, there is no architect in the world who could do the work. The Spirit that inspired such works has gone, the art is lost; look at St. Alban’s Abbey, for instance.
Is there anyone who would have the impudence of suggesting an alteration to the Parthenon or an improvement in a picture by any of the Masters?—I am, yours faithfully,
Thos. M. Deane, B.A. Penmaenmawr, N. Wales.
The Doric Column
To the Editor of The Architect and Building News. Sir,—I have followed with interest the controversy
in your columns with regard to the teaching of the Orders, and particularly a recent letter in reply to “ Student.” I have duly noted the literary style of the letter, and its provocative excellence. Might I be allowed to take up. the cudgels for a moment on behalf of the ‘ ‘ die-hard ’ ’ method ?
Your correspondent has, it appears, suffered much from the Doric Order—griefs comparable to those we bore, in early youth from the multiplication-table, five-finger exercises and Latin verbs! Such are growing pains. But behold us proudly on the threshold of our profession, and plunged again into a similar drudgery. We may well ask—Can beauty be lassoed with a tape, measure? When we have committed the Doric Order to paper in terms of modules, and parts, are we any nearer to the secrets of the Parthenon? What have we gained besides self-discipline and a sense of virtue? I maintain that you cannot master the perfection of that outline without training your sense of beauty. Turn modules and parts into feet and inches, you have a scale to work to—in the same terms in which you yourself are destined to work. The mistake is probably that there it generally stops, and the Doric Order, is next begun, to stop again at the vital part. The whole form must be visualised—and that takes trouble and imagination and a little knowledge. It is not enough to study the Cap in the British Museum, fine though that is—or the frieze, or even the Elgin Marbles— seen as they are close to the eye. Study these things
(Continued on p. 814.)