RADICAL YOUNG MINDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 18 November 1937, Page 16

RADICAL YOUNG MINDS

IN THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE “Wc cannot cloak the fact that the young mind is in many cases radical and ready to embrace anything that bears the stamp of novelty simply because such may be novel,” remarked Mr F. L, Klingender, president of the Rovul Victorian Institute of Architects, in a recent address. “It lacks the wisdom and breadth of view which only experience can give and it is prone to consider that what is new must be original, and as such is quite worthy of adoption, being preferable to slavish copying and any attempt at resuscitation of what one of my predecessors terms ‘dry bones.’ There may be some sort of reason for the existence of that feeling, but it should always be remembered that there is room in this world for us all; that those who prefer to design according to the tenets ot the traditional school have as great a right to do so and to admire the work of that school as the ultra-modern designer has to produce his particular fancies. ‘‘Possibly the most reasonable and charitable way to regard the case of the so-called modern practice would be to consider it as merely a phase which may in the course of time develop into something better than either the old traditionalism or an improved modern treatment, and as the ideas of designers become more or less clarified it may lead to the evolution of a school of design which, while not outraging the feelings of those of an older generation, will make the best of the modern materials which are provided and will treat them in such a way as will satisfy aesthetic demands. ‘‘lt should be borne in mind by impetuous youth that usually evolution is a slow process; the evolution of the Grecian orders was not eifected in 21 hours but these gradually grew during a series of years and any attempt by impulsive young minds to effect the whole business by the stroke of a magician’s wand will be certain to end in disappointment.”