Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-05-11

ing the Choice of GrOund-Som
Changes Will be Made In tn
Plans, Adding to Their Beaut!
Without Additional Cost.
The exact location of the Stat
House on the grounds dedicated t,
that purpose on Capitol Hill has beer
selected by the Commission, aided b,
Mr.. Flagg, the architect. 1t is on tn,
north end OF the grounds, and the en-
trance facing that point is exactly il
line with the center OF Pleasant ave
nue.. The main entrance will face the
south on Fourteenth street, which j.
10O feet wide. The north front, which
faces the bay, will be embellished with
semi-circular projection, in which
will be located the Supreme Court
chambers.
MIR. Flagg gives the following con.
siderations which have influenced the
action OF the Commission:
"1n all monumental buildings there
are practically four fronts. Invaria.
bly,, and especially in this case, in re.
spect to light and shadow, the arch.
itectural effect demands that the Col.
onnade front face the south. l shall
restudy the drawings and make prac.
tically another front for the north, so
that one will be as good as the other.
"The reasons for facing the north
and south rather than the east and
west are numerous. The building will
show to far better advantage from the
water with the long side in view than
it would with the end turned 10 the
Sound. Then if it were placed near
the north line of the grounds facing
north it would seem as if the Commits.
sion were attempting to coerce the
State into buying the remainder of the
property. In locating it as it is pro-
posed, while it will be very desirable to
have the other property, it does no!
make it absolutely essential.
"Then the Commission has borne in
mind the fact that the growth OF the
State may demand future extensions
the Executive mansion and library fol-
instance, and the structure is arranged
with a view to such possible extern
sions. If these extensions are placed
on the east and west they will add tc
the general effect and grandeur of the
whole, while If to the north and south
they would not count for so much
Then if the building faced the cas-,
these extensions could not 60 the al
the sides, but would have to be placed
in the rear. The southern exposure j:
the best possible INTELLECTUALLY, be
cause the play of light and shadow
enhances the value of the architecture
details.
Gail the principal offices will be or
the north side of the building, in full
view OF the bay. After restudying tn,
north front, the lines will be far more
imposing than at present, without in
curing further expense. In place o.
the square projection there will be &
semicircular one, which will be sur
rounded by colonnade after the man
ner Of the White House at the Ma
tional capital, which is the most beau.
tiful facade of that building. Thi,
will be in full view from the water and
the bold projection will count for more
at distance than would the straight
colonnade. There will also be en-
frances from this front which, if the
property to the north is purchased
will be approached by fight of broat
steps, terraces and other architecture
embellishments.
"Again, there were many points te
be considered in placing the building
at the north edge of the capito
grounds, rather than near the center
The idea is to keep il as near the edge
of the bluff as possible, so that the en-
tire building may be seen from the
water. This will also give plenty Of
ground to the south front and admit
OF handsome lawns, broad driveways
and the like, while if the property to
the north is secured the building will
be in the center of the entire tract.
at is proposed to take advantage oil
the modular system upon which the
design is prepared, and reduce the
present scale about one-sixth. We
will then put the building as high 81
as possible, surrounding it with ter.
races. This will practically do away
with excavating, and the basement OF
first story floor will be about l6 feet
above the present level and will thus
enable us TO take every advantage oil
the grand view afforded by the water
and the mountains to the north. The
grounds will be laid out in a pretty
park, with 1OO-foot driveway around
the entire tract"