The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-01-22
HONOLULU
BETTER
Architect New.
comb Finds
New Vistas.

Il. a. T. NeWcoHD, tne arcnltect, VINO
returned on the Siberia from years
absence spent mostly in the Eastern
States, observes many changes for the
better in the appearance of Honolulu.
There has been a great improve
ment in Honolulu. When I went away
the streets were badly torn up for the
installation of the Rapid Transit tracks,
Uttered with building material, and
things in general had an appearance
Of incompleteness. Now the bare
spaces are covered with new struc-
lures or are grassed over, and in many
directions the vistas are very beauti-
full.
Mr.. Newcomb found time while away
to study the changing ideas in architec-
ture and observed that the architecture
Of the United States was growing bet
ter every year. The architects show
more taste in designing and people are
displaying greater interest in beauti-
flying their grounds than formerly.
"There was time when fine lawn
surrounding a home was the piece de
resistance" said Mr.. Newcomb yester-
day. Now they have Italian gardens
and the formal gardens Of England
are finding much favor in the East.
Even in small areas the home-makers
are endeavoring to do something with
their property besides merely building
beautiful house, and architects now
adays enter largely into completing the
picture with grass, flowers and trees.
OF course an Italian garden without
impossible.
"In New York the French modern
ized style of Louis XIV and XVI, both
in business blocks and in residences, is
the vogue. In Boston they generally
are more conservative and buildings
seem to stick more to the classic de-
signs, although in business blocks the
style has to be modified in order to
carry them up to the great heights
now. demanded by owners.
IN residences there is a growing
tendency to the English Gothic type. 1
think they are building in much bet
ter style than formerly. The English
Gothic type goes back to the time of the
T,,5 Snacifnn1Iv King
to the Elizabethan age. One of the
features of these buildings is the large
bays; another is a great terrace un-
covered with a balustrade to it. That
terrace is generally the beginning of
formal garden.
in school buildings I think they have
shown, in the East, particularly, a ten
dency to disregard styles of architec-
ture, to erecting their buildings to fit
their requirements, although from an
architectural standpoint they do have
some standard style, but the great
mass are building schools without
much regard to any particular style.
In California, especially in the
southern part, some very fine buildings
have been erected in the old mission
style. This isla very practical and de-
sirable style for that climate. Any
of these types could be well adapted 10
such n climate as Honolulu possesses.
"The Queen Anne style was about the
worst we have ever had, but it served
its purpose in an architectural way.
About that time people began taking
more interest in architecture, and the
outgrowth of the Queen Anne period in
our own country was to develop better
ideas of building. Where the, commu-
nifty is interested in architecture, they
are apt to have beautiful buildings
erected.
II stopped off at st. Louis, on the
way home. Some of the great build
ings of the Exposition are really very
fine. The majority of the buildings
partake more or less of the French
style, which is modernized form OF
IL -