The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-27 00:00:00

THE PROPOSED NEw GOVERNMENT

OFFICES.

Amongst the most recently suggested schemes of im-
provement, we must mention the designs which were
submitted a few days ago to Sir Wm. Molesworth (in his
capacity of Chief Commissioner of Works), for the erec-
tion of an extensive pile of buildings for Government
offices at Downing-street. The design is by Mr. John
Tarring, architect, and contemplates the removal of the
buildings between the Horse Guards and Great George-
street, Westminster, as far as Charles-street. It is also
proposed to remove the block of houses between King-
street and Parliament-street, although net absolutely ne-
cessary, to open the thoroughfare and improve the appear.
ance of the new buildings. Dover House, which is
situated between the Horse Guards and the buildings
occupied by the Board of Trade and Council-office, it is
suggested should also be removed, in order to form a
public entrance into St. James's-park, instead of a pas-
sage through the Horso Guards as at present : this would
have the effect of giving a good view from the park of
the Banqueting-house, Whitehall. The block of build-
ings now occupied by the Council-office and Board of
Trade, as refaced by Sir Charles Barry, would remain,
and is taken as the basis of the new design; it would
form one wing of the facade towards Whitehall : a
similar wing would extend from about Fludyer-street
to Charles-street, the intermediate space between be-
ing filled up with a grand centre of considerable
height, and a lefty arched entrance. The whole
frontage would be about seven hundred feet. On the north
side facing the Horse Guards, and the south side facing
Charles-street, the buildings would be carried down at
right angles into the park, to a distance of 400 feet, and
have in each front a centre and arched entrance. The
front in the park Jooking westwards, would be similar to
the front in Whitehall, and the whole would form an
oblong pile ef building, 700 feet by 400 feet, with four
façades. The interior would be divided into three
squares by two rows of buildings running parallel with
the north and south sides ; the centre of these squares
would be the largest, and there would be an archway in
the middle of the north and south sides of it, in a line
with the archways in the flanks of the buildings. The
cost has been estimated at nearly 700,0001. and to meet
the financial difficulties started by Sir William Moles-
worth, the parties who snbmitted the plans, offered to
carry them out, and present the buildings to the Go-
vernment, on condition of receiving 32,0001., per annum
for fifty years. It is stated that the Government are
now paying nearly 20,0410/. a year for rent and repairs
of disconnected and inconvenient buildings. We shall
probably give our readers an opportunity to judge of
the effect of the proposed pile. Without reference to
the character of the buildings, we must say that the
proposal to bring together the various Government
offices, and to rnake the whole an architectural adorn-
ment of the metropolis, has our full concurrence. It is
evident from the statement of Sir William, that some-
thing is about to be done in this direction, and it is of
the utmost importance that it should be looked at in a
comprehensive spirit.—The Builder.