ARCHITECTURE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 50, 28 August 1934, Page 16

ARCHITECTURE

WOKK OF STUDENTS

PRIZE-GIVING FUNCTION

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, July 20.

At tko annual prize-giving of. tho Architectural Association School oli Architecture, Lord Lcverlmkac, who is one of the Levorhulmo trustees who provide fivo scholarships of £200 cachi to enable students of moderate means to bo educated at the school, gave an address and Lady Lcverhuhuo presented tlio prizes. Mr. H. A. Pakington, president of tho association, said that during the past year both the bronzo and silver medals of the Eoyal Institute of British Architects had been won by students of 'tho school. This was a record achievement. Those two medals had not been previously won by .the same school in the same school year. In this rapidly changing Englandof ours, said Lord Lovorhulmc, how important it was that we should have ji public sensitive to architecture; for in tho long run it was public opinion which, settled what things wci'O done. Although he was a liberty-loving person and would hesitate to recommend anything in tho nature of artistic control, ho would like to sec it laid down that no building more than a certain sizo or exceeding a certain height should be erected except to- tho designs of a qualified architect. On his estate in Cheshire he had a rulo that no building should bo erected on any land he sold or leased, the plans and elevations of which had not been approved by his advisory architect. His architect endeavoured to preserve the general amenities of the district by insisting that tho designs and materials used should be in keeping with their setting. One could not bo too autocratic, otherwise tho development of an estate would bo prejudiced. But within reasonable limits, a great deal could be done to prevent tho bad development that at present was taking place in so many parts of the country. MINIMUM CONDITIONS. Lord Leverhulnie said that ho .recently asked his architect to draw up wht he considered were thp minimum conditions that should to imposed on builders of houses intended for letting at fairly low rentals. Tho conditions finally agreed upon included tho following stipulations:-— Yellow bricks arc not to be used iv the elevations. j Terra-cotta, glazed, or hard patent] red bricks are not to be used in face work; purplo slates are not permitted on roofs/ All half-timber work must be properly constructed and framed together and must not be sham. No coloured glass shall be permitted in the windows. The work at the Architectural Association is based upon a programme of fivo years' study, proceeding from simple to complex problems, encouraging in the student "tho power to analyse rapidly and to grasp tho requirements of a building programme, to co-ordinato essential factors, to visualise practical and aesthetic possibilities, and—not the least important to tako full advantage of existing sources of information." At every stago design in accompanied by relevant research into solutions of similar problems in historical and contemporary buildings. DIPLOMA THESIS. Tho work of the students was to bo seen in tho several galleries of the school. The most interesting were the "Diploma Thesis" designs by fifthyear students. Here tho principles,, derived from the study of the past and) observation of present requirements, are seen digested and expressed in some excellent designs, mostly for largescale buildings, or groups of buildings, of contemporary application. Somo of the designs arc "A National Opera House" for a sito in Park Square, Eegeut's Park; "A Fruit and Vegetable Market"; "A Crematorium"; "A Tuberculosis Sanatorium"; and "Headquarters of World Airways." The last-mentioned work is l>y miss AI. .T. Blanco White, a granddaughter of the late- Mr. W. Pcmber-Reeves. Miss Blanco White was placed third in the prize list for general work for fifth-year students, the thesis not being considered in reference to the allocation of prizes. Her choice of subject was based on a pamphlet written recently which advocates, the internationalisation of air forces with a view to obviating aerial war in the future. She -selected ground on tho seafront near Athens for her suggested aorodrome, and has developed tho plans with great skill and originality.