New-York tribune., 1874-11-24
EDUCATION IN ARCHITECTURE.

INCREASING DESIRE FOR ARTISTIC BUILDINGS
ARCHITECTS DESIGNS MARRIED BY IGNORANT
CoNrRACToRs--GOOD CRITICISM RARE.
TO the Edttor Gf The Tribune.
SIR: Within tae past 10 years the demand
for architectural design in the United States has
steadily increased Is natural consequence of higher
standard education and the increased facilities for
travel and observation The newspapers are perhaps
the best teachers we have. with all the growing in-
terest in art however we seldom read anything that
touches on the important art OF architecture. The
standard OF taste is low. Arbitrary opinions
are expressed without hesitation by almost every
person concerning new effort TO Dtau'lly
monOtOnOus streets. People ike OF us
like this or that building withodt admitting TOT
an instant that its merits or faults are intrinsic
and result from an adherence to, or violation
of we'll defined principles OF design Ihese Prhclpes
exist quite independent of caprice Not that there are
ipAexibo causes whose mastery qualities any person 10
practice architecture like other science or
art each step indicates another, until we must AUNT
that no line can drawn AMI that to reach perfection
In ANYTHING We must know everything. But
nevertheless. / may safely lay down lew
flexible laws which may induce more in
telngent criticism of architectural efforts. Wnen
the millennium arrives We shall, perhaps, DC rll
Of chlrlaaus calling themselves architects VINO never
put pencil paper, and wdO wear feathers that are
gained them by talented but obscure employ G.
We shall then be strong in public opinion tha .
architect will able 10 underse his more respec'ape
brethren. and make up the deficiency in his
remuneration by eGn5on S co%s %h TV in many
instances suppose that competent men can be ahGleu
for Win bait OF possible 1909 or So for which they
are to work for weeks ana even months With this
belief a committee adyertisl thdt pdIs, o., w. ma
be received for such proposed buidn ana that teSy
will award $1,000 $500 and 500 respectively for the
three designs-aest IN their ignorant estimation.
please 10 execute the work and that tley VIII not Dh
themselves accept any of the designs submitted
With this inducemcnt none but hungry or hali-
Gedeed architect would be likely 10 80 10 the expense
and trouble of Offering designs ,r,,o ,is dosc, i.
represented paper in plans. elevations ana seclos
Tie test Oh knowledge is carrying out his con
ccptOn III detail III administering SO thaI morning. Is
wasted so that he shall prove himself an artist an
artisan, scientist and man of business. Oiten tue
architects best intentions are frustrated by the caprice
of his client who with rare exceptions has little conil-
dcnce in anything but his architects artistic merit
The client undertakes to direct the artisans hnsGl
often reversing architects decisions and causing
no end of eGnfnsGn, delay ana expefSe' bdT se
There is want Of pIopsr IN ie pIPIeSio is m
questions. No person who has not passed a rigorous
examination before Board OF Arcnlects snOuu DC al
lowed practice the art movement III this direction
has already been started III the American Institute OF
Architects"
In regard 10 the criticism of architects works no
be considered qualified who has not taken pans
to acquire certain knowledge of tOrn color, ana coh
structon in the principal materials employed lhey
should then ascertain the purpose for which the Du-
ing erected, the expended aud take into con
sideTalOn the pCcliarlties Of the surroundings 49,
The first question that presents itself III critielsng
any building is, Does 1t express Its object! II so,
could that expression be enforced?
Second: Does the building answer as well as express
its purpose If SO, the natural Ougrowth oI the
! other qualIfcaOni
Third: Is there economical expenditure, cOmpTls-
| ing technical excellence OF execution.
IOurM: Is the mere form and color sensual
| plcaSurel
Fifth Does the whole impress one with completeness
unity eXpressiOnl may fairly say that build
ing in whose favor all these questions can be answered
is truly work of art, whether 1t be stable or a
| cathedral or whether 1t be designed in some known
style whether the exgencics have been ingen0usly
and artstically met in violation OF all canOns.
No style of architecture was ever invented. In all
cases it has grown naturally from the habits and GUS
of people, and there l5 no more reason to-day Tor
copying old examples than there was Tor the build
ers the middle to copy the Parhenon instead OF
giving the magnificent expression OF their supcrst
tOus devotion IN the cathedras study and admire.
But 10 CODY them to dress corpse The mellOwncsS
age aud association not in our work We must eX-
press the nineteenth century and its possibilities. We
have appliances and materials that Unprecedented,
If would leave marks OF our civilization III
art must lead the advance instead Of reluctantly
| following IT, A. +. OAKEY.
NeC FORK, Nov. 16, 1874