Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-09
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Handsome New Banking Building to
Be Built in Rockville.
TASTE In ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS
A Prominent Feature of the In
auguraI Arrangements.
MATTERS OF TERES T

Work will shortly be begun upon the
building for the Farmers Banking and
Trust Company in Rockville, Md 1t will
be located on the corner opposite the court
house. sufficient land having been purchased
at the side and rear to insure at all times
proper light and ventilation. The materials
used in the outer walls will be red bricks,
with limestone trimmings, upon classic lines
while the interior will be finished in natural
woods and contain all modern banking fix
lures. The design is the result of a compe
tition in which Mr.. B. Stanley Simmons,
architect, of this city, was successful.
When this Improvement is completed 1t
will make a substantial and effective addi-
ton to that section. Mr.. VIM. Viers Bouic
will be the president, VIM. w. Welsh treas
urer, and Philip D. Laird. secretary num-
Der of Washington business men, including
Mr.. John Joy Edison, being directors
Taste in Inaugural Designing.
1t seems to be unnecessary to call aIten-
ton to the fact that the satisfactory results
of the designs of the court of honor and of
the scheme of decoration in the ball roo
were due to the fact that the committee
made use of the educated taste Of members
of the architectural profession. The artis-
much in evidence and so satisfactory as in
the preparations for the recent inaugural
ceremonies. There seems to be no reason
why such matters, which belong properly
to the determination of professional iudg
ment. should be passed upon by those whose
education and training have not fitted them
for such duty.
The fact Is, however, that the authority
of professional training to have a final
voice in questions involving the proper
treatment of building designs and in color
schemes for interior decoration is not gen.
orally acknowledged. 1t is not uncommon
to hear persons who have had no special
training assert that they are responsible
for the lines of the exterior designs of their
houses and buildings and -.iat they have
determined the interior treatment. Much
of the feeling that seems to exist that what
is needed by laymen in architecture Is not
the aid of the skill and taste of the trained
mind, but the mere mechanical experiences
of the draughtSman, is due largely to those
members of the profession who are not able
to pass beyond the stage of the draughdng
board.
Place of Architects.
They have no artistic perception of the
relation Of things, and especially Of colors
and their treatment, and 1t is not reasona-
BILE to expect they can give their clients
what they do not themselves possess. But
such men do not represent the profession
of architecture. In one sense 1t seems odd
that it should be a matter Of special con-
graduation to the Inauguration committee
that 1t had the good sense to make use
of the training and skill of members of this
profession In those details of the inaugural
preparations which required ability of this
kind. But it is a fact that a good many in
every community still look upon architec-
tural work as something that most any one
can undertake. especially the designing.
1t Is probable there is no profession to-
ward which the laity preserve quite the
same attitude as they do toward that of
architecture. 1t is nothing to dispute the
judgment and the taste of an architect in
his own province, and even with those at
the head of the profession 1t is seldom that
they are allowed by clients to carry out In
Its completeness one of their designs
Changes are suggested to the author of the
design, and, besides, are insisted upon.
Crudity in Designs.
40 this popularity in the relations be-
tween architects and clients is due good
deal of the crudity found In architectural
designs In this city and elsewhere. At the
same time members Of the profession are
not free from faults, and to their lack of
proper study of a design and to the tend
ency to overload with ornamentation. in
order to mask weakness and uncertainty
in the lines, may be attributed much of the
bad examples to be seen in domestic as we'll
business architecture.
Many people find in architects especially
those who have attained some distinction
In their profession, certain rightly in
| their opinions, which yields with difficulty
to suggestions from clients, so that the
complaint is heard that certain men are not
employed because they would not put up
the KIND OF building that was in mind, and
hence some member of the profession is
chosen with view of his supposed COM
pliance and tractability rather than his fit
ness to do the work.
The Man Who Builds.
1t is the claim of the best men in the pro-
| fession that they aim first of all to ascer-
| tain the needs and wishes of their clients
and then to make designs and plans that
will most effectively meet these wants. From
| the standpoint of the public, what is need
| ed is general recognition Of the fact that
/ the wisdom of considering the professional
| training and skill of an architect is worthy
| of consideration, and Of the serious con-
sideration by prospective builders; and
when that Is done the appearance of the
city will presumably be enhanced, and the
| improvements going on will be recognized
as additions to the ornamentation OF the
| city. 1t may be said in passing that the
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