Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-21
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
Archilecl,s Plans.

10 me EDITOR IF The Stdy:-Permft me TO say
individual purposes building a house he natnT
ally engages one who studies and practi ,es tn 4
art-the designing and construction or build
lDgs-Just as much as were he afflicted With any
bodily ailment he would consult a physician. or
II Ia any legal dispute with a neighbor. he
would seek The counsel OF lawyer His OBJ ect
is 10 nave a house built TO suit hts taste and
purse. II is quite possible I conceIye fhr an
architect or experience 10 direct the consfruc
uon and finishing or house without the ala or
so ~. plans ana specifications at all giving
ms whole thoughts to the entire Arrangement
and construction OF each part and branch or
work, both Individually and as they Affect each
o,heI, seeing the whole building developed in
his minds eye as clearly as he sees the branches
OF trees pelng gradually clothed with the leafy
shade OF early sprfng-of what use NAV I asf.
are plans ard specifications to him? 1 say,
none. But his client desires TO see what he has
IN his minds eye, and the builders require TO
see what they are to bid for Therefore, under
6 on circnmstances, plans and specifications be.
come necessity; more necessary for the latter
than the former, because when once the client
sees on paper what IL is proposed TO give him in
DITCH s,one or wood, he naturally looks for
ward to the realization OF the same. Thus the
plans and specifications become machinery.
tools or instruments, prepared by the ARCHITECT
Tor the purpose OF estimating, directing tie
the artificers. They are the brain power
and experience OF the architect EXPRESSED
on paper They are means TO an end
namely, the erection and completion OF n
house. II, under other circumstances. where
he had prepared no plans and specifications
out had drawn with chalk on a boari
the carcass OF the house, and for details
made models OF all ornaments ana moldings
and otherwise directed the builders by oral
1nstrucuons-the whole resulting as satisfa =
torlly as II finished plans details and specifica-
uoLs had been used-would the client fn such A
case lay claim TO the chalked board plaster
models and oral tnstructions-the arc6itecf,s
lnstruments-only used In q way different from
The ordinary one? When q man gets a fmb
amputated, does he lay claim TO the surgeons
Instruments after the operation is performed;
or again, does he demand the lawyers briefs.
arguments and other legal papers after the
Trial In court has been decided? 1 hardly think
SO; and yet, In these professions. are not the
surgeons Scaipels and lawyers briefs their
Tools ana instruments analogous to the archi-
tects plans and specficattons-a means to an
emo, namely, TO save the life OF his patient and
the right OF his client? Where, then is the
justice OF this preposterous claim upon archl-
tects? II the architect FUSES such means or
instruments whereby his client and Contractor
come 10 terms, and ultimately sees the house
QUILT and finished according TO them, what fur
ther claim has the client on the brain mower
ana experience OF the architect as expressed on
paper-namely, his plans ana speci1cafions-
now that ne sees them executed Ia more dura-
Ole material? Is not the claim based upon an
Illogical hypothesis and cherished BY the public
with an absurd infatuation?
Yours, respectfully, P.M.B.