Williams, is totally unlike the above and is, it must be confessed, mueli less interesting (Figure 2). It is a mixture of Latin and Romanesque-Byzantine elements, disposed in a manner devoid of both taste and method. The main facade, especially, is very heavy; the doorway is weighted with a lintel cutting in two a disposition that would have gained much by not being thus divided. The towers are absolutely ugly and are awkwardly pierced by badly-planned bays. This edifice furnishes a good example of that undecided character of American architecture, to which reference has already been made and which is noticeable in monuments of uncommon importance, where the mass is often lacking in unity and balance.
The church represented in Figure 3 is by Robertson, one of the most highly esteemed architects of the United States. The
porch, with three arches resting on strong, squat columns, has a great deal of character, and all of the principal facjade is in a very free style.
In their less pretentious churches and small chapels, American architects indulge in the oddest and most unexpected conceptions. In some of these no religious use whatever is indicated by the exterior. As an example of this, we refer the reader to a chapel at Minneapolis by Messrs. G. W. & F. D. Orff. It is on a rectangular plan, massive in appearance, and is flanked by a low square tower with a conical cap, at the top of which there are openings like those in a pigeon-house. The chapel is built of brownstone and roofed with tiles; it looks more like a barn or store than a place of worship. The interior disposition is, to say the least, peculiar; the pulpit is placed in one corner and the pews are arranged in fan shape, following the diagonal.
A square, massive tower is not an uncommon feature of small American churches; that on the Morristown Church by Messrs. McKim, Mead & White (Figure 4), is treated in a very heavy manner; the plan evidently gave scope for a more elegant facade. The Chapel of Our Saviour at Roslindale, Mass., by Blackall, possesses, on the other hand, all the qualities that are lacking in the Morristown Church. It comprises (Figure 5) a rectangular nave, with a chancel in the rear in front of the altar ; at the right is the rector’s study, with a private exit, and also a Sunday-school room, to which access is had through a vestibule. The latter serves at the same time as an entrance
to the chapel and is reached by a short flight of steps and the inevitable porch. Porches are appended to all sorts of structures in the United States; dwelling-houses are always provided with them, and we shall see later on how ingeniously American architects utilize this practical element for decorative purposes. We have an example of this here even, where the porch relieves the stiffness of the tower against which it abuts. The rest of the facade is well conceived and faithfully indicates the interior disposition. The gable on the left sharply defines the nave, and the aspect of the square building on the right is in full harmony with its less purely religious character. The whole is graceful and artistic.
The chapel by Andrews & Jaques at Dublin, N. H. (Figure 6), furnishes another type of religious architecture in the
United States. If the steeple should be removed and a few interior partitions be added, without otherwise altering the outside we should have a dwelling house with broad projecting roofs, quite like some of the small English residences. Here, then, no effort has been made to have the external features of the edifice express its purposes.
(To tie continued.)
CONDITIONS AFFECTING FUTURE GOVERN MENT COMPETITIONS. -— CODE OF PROFES SIONAL PRACTICE AND CHARGES.— THE EQUITABLE INSURANCE COMPANY’S BUILDING AND ITS ARCHITECT. — HOW SOME WENT OUT TO SHEAR AND RE TURNED SHORN.
SYDNEY, N. S. W.
THE long-talked-of conditions which are to regulate the future competitions for all our public buildings whose cost is estimated to exceed £5,000 have at last been issued. They have been drawn up the Government-architect, assisted by a committee of
Fig. 4. Church at Morristown, N. J.
The church represented in Figure 3 is by Robertson, one of the most highly esteemed architects of the United States. The
porch, with three arches resting on strong, squat columns, has a great deal of character, and all of the principal facjade is in a very free style.
In their less pretentious churches and small chapels, American architects indulge in the oddest and most unexpected conceptions. In some of these no religious use whatever is indicated by the exterior. As an example of this, we refer the reader to a chapel at Minneapolis by Messrs. G. W. & F. D. Orff. It is on a rectangular plan, massive in appearance, and is flanked by a low square tower with a conical cap, at the top of which there are openings like those in a pigeon-house. The chapel is built of brownstone and roofed with tiles; it looks more like a barn or store than a place of worship. The interior disposition is, to say the least, peculiar; the pulpit is placed in one corner and the pews are arranged in fan shape, following the diagonal.
A square, massive tower is not an uncommon feature of small American churches; that on the Morristown Church by Messrs. McKim, Mead & White (Figure 4), is treated in a very heavy manner; the plan evidently gave scope for a more elegant facade. The Chapel of Our Saviour at Roslindale, Mass., by Blackall, possesses, on the other hand, all the qualities that are lacking in the Morristown Church. It comprises (Figure 5) a rectangular nave, with a chancel in the rear in front of the altar ; at the right is the rector’s study, with a private exit, and also a Sunday-school room, to which access is had through a vestibule. The latter serves at the same time as an entrance
to the chapel and is reached by a short flight of steps and the inevitable porch. Porches are appended to all sorts of structures in the United States; dwelling-houses are always provided with them, and we shall see later on how ingeniously American architects utilize this practical element for decorative purposes. We have an example of this here even, where the porch relieves the stiffness of the tower against which it abuts. The rest of the facade is well conceived and faithfully indicates the interior disposition. The gable on the left sharply defines the nave, and the aspect of the square building on the right is in full harmony with its less purely religious character. The whole is graceful and artistic.
The chapel by Andrews & Jaques at Dublin, N. H. (Figure 6), furnishes another type of religious architecture in the
United States. If the steeple should be removed and a few interior partitions be added, without otherwise altering the outside we should have a dwelling house with broad projecting roofs, quite like some of the small English residences. Here, then, no effort has been made to have the external features of the edifice express its purposes.
(To tie continued.)
CONDITIONS AFFECTING FUTURE GOVERN MENT COMPETITIONS. -— CODE OF PROFES SIONAL PRACTICE AND CHARGES.— THE EQUITABLE INSURANCE COMPANY’S BUILDING AND ITS ARCHITECT. — HOW SOME WENT OUT TO SHEAR AND RE TURNED SHORN.
SYDNEY, N. S. W.
THE long-talked-of conditions which are to regulate the future competitions for all our public buildings whose cost is estimated to exceed £5,000 have at last been issued. They have been drawn up the Government-architect, assisted by a committee of
Fig. 4. Church at Morristown, N. J.