“The Press” In 1864

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30399, 25 March 1964, Page 16

“The Press” In 1864

March 25. THE CRITICS OF OUR ARCHITECTURE Imagine the crude absurdity of additions made one after the other in this sort of quasi classical, the style deemed suitable by our sticklers for common sense. By this time how much of the trashy encumbrances or cornices, pilasters, and mouldings would require renailing and reputtying! And it is well for our architects to bear in mind that our public buildings will with the progress of the place require additions probably at frequent intervals; and in connexion with this, that the Pointed Style and its congeners, above all, allow of several buildings complete in themselves being grouped into one design. This, to our mind, almost settles the in which

they should be built—apart from other facilities, and not least, exemption from the expensive task of hiding roofs and structural details as is imposed in the Greek styles. What would be the alternative if the present buildings were in the Greek or Roman fashion? There would probably be a wing to begin with, a “chunk” cut out of a sea-side terrace; the next addition a costly centre hall and dome of course, of no use by the way, but necessary so as to get to the corresponding wing required; we say nothing about using nearly all the real masonry in flights of steps for the sake of dignity, and a back door to save the fatigue of using them, for we have generally found one to accompany the other. Surely this is not what we This

is but a ridiculous affectation in art, and if these critics of ours still use common sense as a warcry they must be reminded that a just criticism in art involves not common sense only, but that indispensable sense educated, and that those satisfied with such a crop of ideas as may be obtained with insufficient cultivation can be but incompetent judges. Let these, with their utter technical ignorance of all architecture whatever, think how even Wren and Inigo Jones, masters great in their special styles, have failed in their attempts at Pointed Architecture. Let them consider if such as they failed, whether they may not be wisely doubtful in doing as they did—attempting what they had not sufficiently studied.