The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21
Il BUILDING FOR THE FIR SEX
The Most Striking Structure Ever Planned
for W0nan-It VIII Be Modelled After
Composite Photograph

NGT1HAT is probably the most strik-
SAEAHE9 ing plan for q building which
INA A:.N has been conceived in many
years has just been submitted to the COM
mission of the Exposition Universelle at
Paris. The architect proposes that the
woman's building of the great fair shall
be constructed in the form of woman's
head and neck, the model therefor being
a photograph taken from a composite
arrangement made up from photographs
of the most beautiful women obtainable.
The exterior of :he statue building will,
if il is constructed, certainly be so unique
as to practically excel in the matter of
attracting attention all other architectural
features OF the exposition. The plans of
the architect are in brief as follows: The
statue will in no sense be so constructed
as to have the appearance OF Just plain,
everyday wooden building in strange
mold. Every effort will be bent toward
the effect OF a living head, one which
seems almost to breathe. Beneath the
layer of thin wood upon which the paint
covering the face will be placed it is the
intention to arrange a number OF very
powerful electric lights.
The wood referred to will be of some
variety which IS not opaque and the
electric lights of sufficient force to send
through the wood and paint soft glow.
With this arrangement IL is believed the
face will shine at night, not in a glarIng
way, but in degree that will be both
beautiful and picturesque. The eyes will
be particularly striking at night, as the
pupils are TO consist OF powerful electric
arc lights. The hair of the statue will be
made as life-like as possible. In color it
will he OF dark brown shade and will
consist of strands OF rope as fine as can
be used which will stand exposure to the
weather. Growing this hair will be a
wreath, to be constructed in the form of
that very familiar adornment of the God
dess of Liberty.
The entrance to the statue will be at the
base of the neck, and its height sufficient
to warrant the arrangement in the order
of four-story building. On the first floor
it is intended the reception-rooms shall be
located. These are to be deliberately deco
rated with designs, in which women are
to be the central figures. 1t is intended
they shall be selected from the works SUBJ
mitted by the very best artists who can
be induced to enter into mpetition Tor
the same. In class decoration of this ma
ture it has been the custom in the past TO
accept designs which are practically an
cient subjects utilized in as effective man
ner as possible, the ancient classical fig
ures being preferred. 1t is intended in
this instance, however, that a design, in
order TO be worthy of acceptance or even
consideration, must be entirely original
and altogether unlike the stereotyped
forms that have become so familiar to all
to whom art and artists are not strangers.
Not only will the walls of the reception
rooms be decorated in this manner, but
the ceiling given as careful attention. In
every instance the design will not only be
appropriate to the building, but to the
room in which it is used. In fact, every