the word “view” as literally as possible, and spent
many hours of labour and no little expense in preparing very elaborate perspectives and bird’s-eye views, in which, of course, the elevations of the buildings were shown with the utmost precision. What must have been their dismay when they discovered that one person succeeded in obtaining a prize for a drawing consisting of nothing more than the original printed plan supplied to competitors, with a few coloured washes indicating the position of the principal buildings and roads in the projected scheme. If the assessor considered this type of representation sufficient, why did he not say so? The set of drawings illustrating the winning scheme were extraordinarily dainty. On a buff background the plan was superimposed in dark blues, purples, reds and greens, while the lettering was picked out in delicate shades of coloured ink. There is only one word to describe it — “chic. ” Not that the assessor was unduly influenced by these superficial attractions, for the scheme was also compact of intelligence. Yet one may argue that the task of assessing is made more difficult by this variety of techniques. M. Romanoff’s perspective, though of exiguous dimensions, carried sensationalism to its extremest limits. Within a very bright blue border, several inches wide, was framed the little picture, in which the flat tops of the buildings were diagrammatically represented in a uniform orange of flaming intensity, while the vertical planes were shown in an equally obtrusive yellow. It is all very clever and amusing, but is it a legitimate form of architectural draughtsmanship? To which one
may answer “As a poster, yes, ” but not in important competitions in which the respective merits of a number of designs are to be very carefully appraised. What is needed on such an occasion as this is complete uniformity in the technique of draughtsmanship, so that the mind of the assessor may be concentrated on the variety and originality of the schemes themselves.
Book Reviews
The Modern English House. 192 pages of illustrations, with introduction by R. Randal Phillips. London: Country Life. 21s. net.
This is a collection of photographic views, with plans, of 135 modern English houses and bungalows of medium size, and should serve as a useful and suggestive guide for those who aspire to build their own homes. It will give them a very good idea of the character of the work of 75 British architects who have been worthily upholding the standard of domestic architecture in this country. The houses shown range in point of date from about 20 years ago up to the present day; and though most of them will be familiar to our professional readers, collections Such as these are useful to both layman and architects as focussing the trend of design over a period of years. Mr. Phillips writes pleasantly about points in the design of the modern house and about various changes and labour-saving innovations which present conditions have dictated. We notice one slip — whereby a deceased Past-President of the R. I. B. A. has been given a title which, though much deserved, was not conferred.
BIRMINGHAM CIVIC CENTRE COMPETITION: SUPPLEMENTARY PREMIUM (£200).
G. Niedeemann and K. Hippenmeier (Zurich).
many hours of labour and no little expense in preparing very elaborate perspectives and bird’s-eye views, in which, of course, the elevations of the buildings were shown with the utmost precision. What must have been their dismay when they discovered that one person succeeded in obtaining a prize for a drawing consisting of nothing more than the original printed plan supplied to competitors, with a few coloured washes indicating the position of the principal buildings and roads in the projected scheme. If the assessor considered this type of representation sufficient, why did he not say so? The set of drawings illustrating the winning scheme were extraordinarily dainty. On a buff background the plan was superimposed in dark blues, purples, reds and greens, while the lettering was picked out in delicate shades of coloured ink. There is only one word to describe it — “chic. ” Not that the assessor was unduly influenced by these superficial attractions, for the scheme was also compact of intelligence. Yet one may argue that the task of assessing is made more difficult by this variety of techniques. M. Romanoff’s perspective, though of exiguous dimensions, carried sensationalism to its extremest limits. Within a very bright blue border, several inches wide, was framed the little picture, in which the flat tops of the buildings were diagrammatically represented in a uniform orange of flaming intensity, while the vertical planes were shown in an equally obtrusive yellow. It is all very clever and amusing, but is it a legitimate form of architectural draughtsmanship? To which one
may answer “As a poster, yes, ” but not in important competitions in which the respective merits of a number of designs are to be very carefully appraised. What is needed on such an occasion as this is complete uniformity in the technique of draughtsmanship, so that the mind of the assessor may be concentrated on the variety and originality of the schemes themselves.
Book Reviews
The Modern English House. 192 pages of illustrations, with introduction by R. Randal Phillips. London: Country Life. 21s. net.
This is a collection of photographic views, with plans, of 135 modern English houses and bungalows of medium size, and should serve as a useful and suggestive guide for those who aspire to build their own homes. It will give them a very good idea of the character of the work of 75 British architects who have been worthily upholding the standard of domestic architecture in this country. The houses shown range in point of date from about 20 years ago up to the present day; and though most of them will be familiar to our professional readers, collections Such as these are useful to both layman and architects as focussing the trend of design over a period of years. Mr. Phillips writes pleasantly about points in the design of the modern house and about various changes and labour-saving innovations which present conditions have dictated. We notice one slip — whereby a deceased Past-President of the R. I. B. A. has been given a title which, though much deserved, was not conferred.
BIRMINGHAM CIVIC CENTRE COMPETITION: SUPPLEMENTARY PREMIUM (£200).
G. Niedeemann and K. Hippenmeier (Zurich).