New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-24


markable altitude: then sixteen SUITES .,,u;t;as
to be looked upon as among tne p'na ~
and to-day one would scarcely DC SUI =. IN
hear that a building was Soihs " oe ~
to thirty stories. ,o,. A.. ,,r
Under such conditions II is not dihicuI, " IN an
derstand that the architect OF the presei' uaJ
must indeed be of a versatile turn OF mlhu' ilc
must possess a knowledge of the necessary oe
tails involved in architecture from any s,ahu
point. The economic. artistic ana struo.ua o .,
principles Of his profession require NE IT.
thorough mastering Than ever peloic III ''' ''
tory of the art. 10.
Just what an architect should know mas
been made plain by the Editor OF Archtectuie
and Building" as follows: liam
for buildings and that for their utllitarian uses
regardless of other qualifications Artlstic e.
fort or conformity 10 style was not ioi d ny
ment considered. In the earliest years Oh pui,u-
ing In both countries, simple and good S1yles
prevailed from two causes, one from the Iao'
that the demands of the people were LOT uhpie
tentous accommodations; the second iIo'i' e
fact that our mechanics were under the nn '
epce of the really good architecture prcVaiiins
In the Old World. AS a result, the earnest VI
colonial work is even now model or good aren't
lecture in this country. Since then. as weath
increased, there demand for elaboration
and ornamentaton, without either taste OF
training to furnish ii on the part OF the archl-
tect builder. or discrimination OF kno"reu5e
on the part Of the public to appreciate H. 1here
were few IL any skilled architects; almost every
thing was committed to the carpenter-archi-
tects who had lost the traditions when gov
erned the early colonial mechanics and as a
consequence everything was seized upon ana
made use Of in the design of their buHdnss'
Details were selected and grouped together Win
little idea Of harmony or appropriateness ana
the consequence has been grotesque ana uhpe-
coming combinations that offended later ana
much more cultivated tastes. This period OF
American architecture, and IN American we
may include Canadian as well, for Doth nave
grown UP under much the same conditions,
has not as yet altogether passed. Many OF
our older architects who are still! doing much OF
the work are self-made men who nave Deeh
graduated from the carpenters bench. ana nave
had neither the time nor the inclination for any
systematic study of architecture from us MS
torcal or artistic side. Under such circum,
stances, what wonder that the 1ych gate OF OLD
for the protection of mourners on their way TO
the grave should be ignorantly adopted as
feature at the entrance OF the grounds OF
summer cottage!
CHANGE IN THE PROFESSION.
',This period Of American architecture is pass
ing away and more cultivated class of men
are entering the profession. The architect Is
more of scholar IL less of mechanic. Per-
haps there is here a risk that he may become
too much of student of style and the niceties
Of his art to the neglect OF the practical ques-
lions of construction. A study OF the work OF
our schools shows that historical architecture
occupies by far the largest place In THESE
tical questions Of construction to be obtained
later in the office. In measure, this must De
so. but it is very questionable II 1t may not De
carried too far.
There are many matters that can be made
part of the regular course Of study in the schools
which we have thought are passed over TOO
lightly with the idea that they VIII be acquired
in the course Of office experience In way
this matter is being recognized, however ana
there is an effort TO meet this requirement by
division Of classes into what are termed archi-
lecture and architectural engineering. This last
course. while giving certain amount OF artis-
tic training aims to give the engineering feat-
ures Of construction, dividing. as 1t were. the
coming architects into artists and constructors
This division we see exempiiled IN modern prac-
tice In all our great architectural of1ices we
frd this classification recognized, and the place
of the constructor Is in frequent cases fiiied by
skilled engineers whose training in bridge WORK
and difficult foundations, such as are required
for public works. railroad bridges, piers etc.
has fitted them to handle the foundations and
ironwork Of the modern skeleton structures. The
last ten to fifteen years have brought entirely
new problems to the architect. and what ne
should know covers vastly larger field than
was required Of earlier practitioners. 1t Is tod
that an old architect, once asked TINS question
by his student. replied He must know every
thing Under the present regime everything
has wider significance than ever before in the
history of building. On the old-tme lines
calm restful. dignihed and significant exterior
and planning to meet the moderate require
uents of those times for interior accomnoda
items filled the bill. But to-day there is as much
difference between our buildings and those OF
that day as between the modern man-of-war
and the old line-of-battle ship.
COMPLICATIONS OF TO-DAY
"ro grace. beauty and good proportions in ex-
terror appearance are added the complicated
services of the building. The structure must
he threaded with electric wire. traversed by
pipes for steam, for hot and cold water for