The New York herald., 1876-02-08

AN IMPROVED TASTE AS ExEMPLIFIED IN PUB
LIo AND PRIVATE sTRUcTUREs-THE CKARAc-
TER OF BUILDING HERETOFORE PREVALENT
WHAT IS NEEDED IN THE WAY OF REFORM.
To THE EDITOR HERALD
Despite the past years. dulness in real deal
ings, and the comparatively small number OF
dwellings erected, the city has the completion Of
some buildings Of public character that will un-
doubtedly have marked influence city architecture
in the future In the first place, have the new
Post Office and whatever may have been the mistakes
of the late Supervising Architect Of the Treasury in the
of contracts, &c, it cannot be denied that
to him in the design OF this important structure great
deal that is admirable and worthy OF imitation. This
design TO show people the value or two i'm
portant elements in large buildings of that nature
that we have passed the days of makeshift and tenn
porary building for public uses, and build now not for
generation, but for all time
This appearance OF solidity is in great measure due
to the material employed and the well known unnness
of granite for any building that not the opposite Of
Hinsy unsubsantia; but there is also much in tho
idea OF
REcEDING FRONTS,
rising behind the other Like Pelon piled upon
Ossa
To one standing under the portco OF the HERALD
Building and looking toward the north the effect is
massive and grand beyond anything Of the kind We
have yet had Then the simplicity is admirable be-
appropriate There is certain fitness ami dignity
in the severity OF the design that s eminenty suited
to the ownership origin and purposes Of the structure
Thus what twenty-five thirty years ago would have
been a semi-Greco- Roman temple, dark, gloomy and
i'll ventilated, bright and airy, with lofty ceilings
and every modern appliance for comfort and
ience Another example Of improved taste is
THE NEW cHIcKERISo HALL
Our people here shown what we are Just begin
ming 20 recognzeviz the advantage Of color in archi
tecture What American Of the crowds that yearly
flock Paris does not yield genuine admiration to the
charms Of that superb building, the OperaY And
yet how much OF the charm is due to the judicous use
OF colorl How the many colored polished columns
the bronze capitals and tho gded statuary relieve the
soberness Of the delicatey Tilted stone OF which
built Many years will yet eapse before have in /
this country scuiptors and artisans of the requisite
ability and in sufficient numbers 70 decorate build
ings, either public or private with that wealth and
OF carving and sculpture that found abroad
but meanwhile there s vast field for the display OF
judcious combinations of color One thing is certain
there is lack Of material No other country offers
such inexhaustible and varied
sUPPLIEs OF STONE AND METAL.
The building referred TO affords another proof that
the solid and substantial Is taking the place OF the
1msy and the temporary, but in this case there is
attempt at simplicity OF effect Here again is an ex
ample of that fitness and proprety so much TO be de-
sired The granite paneling let into the brickwork
the polished granite pillars OF the Fifth avenue
the colored glass Of the large windows, all set of by
the rch color Of the general brickwork, combine
harmonously together and produce admirable
effect All these are innovations here but they are
steps In the right direction New Workers have fol- |
lowed too much IN each others footsteps in matters OF
architecture Independence Of IDEAS on this point II
properly directed is what need How successfully
the Nova Scotia stone now so much used, be
bned with brick Is well shown In the large building
the corner Of Bond street and Broadway Unfor-
tunatey, buildings like that few the great thor
oughiare The intense desire to give plenty Of light
shops he no qola oh.
ject Of their designers In fact there many build
in that street that present TO the nqurng
merely immense fronts OF plate glass Interrupted
In each story by a row Of meagre iron
columns In these buildings the architect is scorned
Grafton is because Of this contempt for sound prn-
cpes that Broadway presents perhaps, the most ab-
normal and extraordinary display Of
ARgBITEcIURAL 1oSsrRosTIEs
that be found 10 any city. Its general style OF
architecture 1t would be hard TO define In TACT has
our principal street made up Of buildings forming
confused succession Of Dorc Ionic and Cornthan col
umns Gothic windows Moorish arches and Renais-
sance ornamenation finished OF with buleng cornices
or Mansard roofs tipped with iron ratings, spikes
and points innumerable 1t true, We cannot
Haussmann 70 enforce with iron hand neat, IN
swerying uniformity Of style; and yet wo can
effects OF architecture equally pleasing and effective
as IN the newest Partisan Doulevards II may be sad
that every New Yorker is free TO put up whatsoever he
chooses Perfectly true; but, we ask, s necessary
because one man has erected facade OF white marble
that his next door neighbor purely and solely 70 show
his independence, must decorate his shop with iron
in impossible and agonizng positions utterly
huge iron fesoons OF fruit and flowers ut
Iery inappropriate, the whole adorned by half tho
coors Of the rainbow. with the addition OF gliding ad
bItum and dd RduselfpP II evident that IL 10 not
because cannot build we'll, but because we will not
Oen u Is the owners eagerness 10 advertise his bus
ness that gives birth 10 these deformIties Then is
architecture degraded and the eye sickencd by the
Effort 70 accomplish what could be easily attained in
an agreeable and pleasing manner.
presents numerous elegant and lordly mansions put
even here be iouDd room for improvements Oo-
here and there the tendency toward pofuse Deco
ration-e o., the attempt 70 crowd upon an oroinaIy
house front carving ample enough for hall dozen
others IL Is " a Of wealth were cobthuaiy
displaying every Jewel and ornament that she pos
sessed But better taste Is beng cultivated Inc
newest buildings have many claims 70 admiration. an
example is the dwelling lnshed during .ne year JUST
past upon the corner Of Fftyscventh street Though
remarkably novel in design. - quiet and unostenta-
tous IL Is picturesque, most unusual charactersnc
OF New York dwelling house This and other notable
az afnplee In the same vicinity hold forth the hope
snre ~ he funllcd that before long attention will be
turned more earnestly 70 this important question The
refined taste Of bc multitude daily on lhe Increase