AMERICANISING LONDON.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7190, 7 January 1902, Page 4

AMERICANISING LONDON.

Sky Scrapers in the Strand,

London, Docembor 24, The Americanising of London is proceeding apace. The Times tells U3 that an influential Anglo-American syndicate has been formed for the purpose of erecting in the heart of London an office building, on American lines, which will bo " tho largest and handsomest structure of its kind in the world," and is to cost £2,000,----000 sterling. The syndicate has submitted to the London County Council a written-application for 999 years' lease of the site, which it is understood is on tho north side of tho Strand between the two points at which the new' street from Holborn will debouch on the Strand. The frontage to the Strand will bo about 250 yards, whilst in tho adjoining streets the frontages will be even longer. "On American lines " means, of course, that tho building will be a gigantic structure of steel faced with stone, and will bo abundantly supplied with lifts, as well as with heating and lighting arrangements worked from a common source in the basement. The building is to be eight storeys in height, but a portion of it will be rise to ten storeys, and in the contro will bo a rotunda under a lofty dome, to serve as a general rendezvous. It is estimated that the Uoor. space available for letting will amount to 900,000 square feet, and that the building will contain fiOOO rooms. Tho basement will consist of extensivo safe deposits, a large restaurant, engines, boilers and machinery for furnishing heat, electric light, and power necessary for thirty lifts. The ground iloor will contain accommodation for banks and insnranco companies requiring largo rooms and for shops. Tho upper floors will be given up to offices. The rents payable by the tonauts are to include charges for heating and electric lighting, cleaning, and telephone service. It is estimated that the annual maintenance charged will be upwards of £85,000, and that the construction will occupy over two years. Tho members of the syndicate who signed the application to tho London County Council are Sir Richard Farrant, Earl Grey, Sir C. Wilson, the Earl of Kintore, Messrs Frederic B. Esler, New York, George Comwallis West, Charles S. Drummond, J. Oakley Maund and C. Sheriff Hilton.

Those who know tho stylo of office buildings which menace the heavens above Chicago and New York—" dry goods crates upside down " they have been called—will utter a pious prayer that London may be saved from such. And it may be taken for granted that the London County Council will not allow of tho erection in the heart of tho metropolis of such ghastly examples of the triumph of utilitarianism over the aesthetical, though heaven knows there is little beauty in the frontage which tho Council has permitted to be added to that gigantic caravanserai, the Hotel Cecil. Tho new building, if 'tis ever erected, will dwarf even that monster building, and unless architects can be found who can combine beauty and bulk, the .22,000,000 pile will be v source never ending regret to Londoners.