The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-09-24
The New Palace.

We reported in Il recent Issue of the
ADVERTISER upon the progress recently made at
the new Iolani Palace. A short description of
the building, now that it is approaching compile
ton, may not be uninteresting to our readers,
especially to those who are residing at a dis
lance, and realize with difficulty the changes
which have occurred in the Honolulu they were
once familiar with.
The main body of the New Palace forms a
substantial rectangular mansion. There is n
tower at each corner, but these towers are not
part of the main building: they flank the wide
verandahs and balconies of the Palace which
but for these Interruptions, would run all round
it. Over the main entrance, in the middle of the
front elevation rises another tower of greater
dimensions, and this feature of the design is re-
peated at the back. Like the corner towers
these central ones stand out from the main mass
of the building, their two lower stories being
parts of the verandah and the balcony re-
spectively. This feature of the design might be
expected to give to the building a more impos-
ing appearance than the actual dimensions of
the main part of it(whch are about so feet x 100
feet would warrant, but, in point of fact, such is
not the case, and as seen from a short distance
the Palace does not look so large as it really is.
1AtAl ~ INV CtbAA AAahA6C liz JUL VI
the design and of the internal arrangements.
Some of these have been captious, some
mutually destructive, others no doubt justified
by the rules of common sense and the inspira-
tions of the aesthetic sense. With the questions
thus raised we do not propose to deal-suficient
for Us is the fact, that at length there is a pro-
mise that our Sovereign will be provided with
apartments suitable for the reception of the dis
4;,cr;-l,ol ,,,--,,,a,og h. - f.,,, t;r,o o., 4;,.o
called upou to entertain, and with a residence
suitable to his position and dignity.
The design of the exterior of the building can
not be described in a few words or referred to
any recognized order of architecture. If a name
is to be coined for it we should favor American
FlOrentine - as the nearest approach to a cor
rect one. The facade of the front is in two
stories, 40 feet long, and "a high, with IL
tower, as already described, in the centre and one
at each end. Each tower is capped by a square
campaniie having the concave outlines 50 common
in the Italian architecture of the later iddle
Ages; and the central tower having II third
story rises to the height Of 50 feet. The
columns which flank the main entrance, and
those in the verandah and balcony, are of the
COrinthian order and have between them very
fat elliptic arches. The main floor israised nine
feet above the level of the ground, and is APP
preached by a wide flight of iron steps. The
balustrade of the verandah is of a suitable
design in cement work, and for the balcony an
elaborate iron railing is to be imported. The
elevation of the back Of the Palace is almost an
exact repetition Of that of the front, at the sides
the details of the verandahs and balconies with
their columns have been repeated, but there is
no break in the centre. The length of the facade
at each side is exactly 100 feet.
Entering the building we find ourselves in a
large hall, whose dimensions are % feet Y 10
feet. A staircase 6 feet wide breaks the hall at
about 81 feet from the entrance. This returns
by two flights each four feet wide. In the
original design the double flight was below and
the return was single, an ARRANGEMENT which
would have given a more handsome appearance
to the staircase, but was found inconvenient i'll
other respects. On the right hand Of the hall
Is the thrOne-room. This handsome apartment
is 40 feet Y 40 feet in dimensions. This space
is however reduced by a screen placed behind
the throne, forming there an ante-room about
s feet wide. As the floor above the thrOne-room
has TO carry a partition wall, the original design
of the ceiling was departed from to admit Of the
insertion of a large beam to strengthen the
structure. This change has added TO the beauty
of the ceiling without IN any way detracting
from the appearance Of the room in the matter
of height. The ceiling has been divided into
six panels, the mOuldings and centerpieces Of
which are extremely beautiful. No effect at all
approaching that of the present ceiling could
have been attained, had the first design of an
unbroken fiat ceiling been adhered to. The
ornamental woodwork of this room has yet to be
begun. The throne and the screen behind it
present opportunities for the wood carver's art
which will not be neglected. On the left hand
side of the hall is the dining room, an apart
ment 80 feet X 40 feet. Another room can be
thrown into this by sliding back the large doors
between them. The smaller room which lies to
the front of the Palace is % feet Y - feet and
will be used either as a drawing-room or as an
ante-room. In these rooms the elaborate plaster
work of the ceilings and cornices is complete,
but a great deal of carpentry work still remains