CHANGING BRITISH ARCHITECTURE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 105, 27 January 1933, Page 4

CHANGING BRITISH ARCHITECTURE

Modern Cinemas, Shops and Public Buildings

LIVERPOOL’S TWO GREAT CATHEDRALS

Changes in the methods of building in vogue in Britain were described entertainingly by Mr. E. J. T. Lutyens, a London achitect, in the course of an address at a reception to him and his wife given in Wellington this week.. Mr. Lutyens referred particularly to the newest theatres, public buildings,churches, shops, hotels and city buildings, many qf which are striking a new note in architecture. .

“There has been,” Mr. Lutyens said, “ an enormous development in flat building for all classes of people, so much so that one wonders what must happen if the present sad .times continue. Notably among these schemes are the London County Council, of the Westminster Estate, and various private companies.”

Bf=“=~=iEXT to housing, Mr. Lutyens | considers the largest amount | of change has takeu place in cinema construction. In London the cinemas vary greatly iu treatment and tlie use of materials, though perhaps the most interesting and effective cinema he had seen was in Stockholm. The effect achieved there was striking: a semi-circular ceiling painted darkblue, with enormous baloons lit up with electricity hanging from it, the remainder of the theatre kept very dark, whereas iu contrast the stage was brightly lit up with two gilt figures standing on either side. MQuite a large number of very fine public buildings have been erected in tlie years since the war,” said Mr. Lutyens. “A very popular type has been the D-shaped plan with the fourth side filled in. Often externally there lias been a strong Swedish influence, due partly to the strong friendship which has sprung up between the two nations, and also a desire to get away from the rigid classical manner, which has bound down the designer for so long. Alteration in Shop Design. “Shop design has altered a lot from the heavy type with its massive col-

umns and cornice to far more economical and less pretentious. The upright members have been cut down to a minimum, while the remainder have been filled in with bronze work and glass. . “Some shops have narrowed the glass spaces to such a small degree that only one exhibit is possible—possibly only one dress, one hat, or one piece of jewellery. These indicate that they have masses more in the background, but this particular article is the only one for you. “In hospital work there has been a very considerable increase since the war tne modern tendency is to cut flown the number in each ward to 24 or 2b, approxi-

njately eight feet between the centres of the beds. . “In some hospitals kitchens are nrranged on the lop floor, especially in London, where ground floor space isl very expensive, and in this way all smells from cooking are eliminated. Speeding in Building Hotel, ‘•ln London there is a great divergence of opinion on what is the solution of tne modern ci tv building; there are many upholders of 'the romantie classical .typo of buildingrusually adopted by the big banks and other business houses. But there are also many others who are willing to experiment. . “'There is one budding which deserves considerable mention, r l'hat is a large hotel carried out in reinforced concrete in the most expensive part,' of London. Speed of erection was a great factor, and tlie architect evolved a very ingenious method of construction, and one. which Should solve a great, problem in London of finding a material to stand up to the ravages of London smoke and fumes, “On the inside he had his boarding as usual, but on the outside he placed his terrazzo blocks, the finished article to be mted. The concrete was poured between these, and when set. all that remained to be done was to polish the outside, and the building was externally finished. Great Liverpool .Cathedrals. “A very fine cathedral is slowly being erected in Liverpool. At present only the transept and choir lire finihhed, but it is being pushed along slowly, and soon

a cathedral will be finished fit to take its place with any cathedral of the middle ages. "... “Liverpool will indeed be rich iu cathedrals, for within a stone’s throw there will shortly be erected another which for grandeur and beauty of design will challenge anything that has ever been created. It is to be a brick and stone cruciform m plan, with the interesting feature that- ail the chapels to the various s'amts will be formed between the nave and the aisles. This win keep the main riarts of the bunding clear of all the ritualistic details which architecturally detract from so many Roman Catholic buildings. “The dome will be constructed in three parts similar to St. Paul’s, but experiments are being made to have interlocking granite blocks! to take the place of the massive iron chain arranged to take the thrust. “It is probable that within the next half century the finest Roman Catholic cathedral of modern days will stand side by side with the finest Church of England cathedral, the former designed by a Protestant and the latter by a Roman Catholic.”