Evening star., 1909-05-04
MOSTLY LOCAL WORK
Architectural Clubs Exhibition
Is Ready.
PRIVATE VIEW TONIGHT
Hemicycle Hall Of Corcoran Gallery
Scene Of Display.
DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
Mural Paintings, Designs for 1nte-
rior Decorations, Sculpture, Wood
Carving and Embroideries.
DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

The Washington Architectural Club
exhibition which will open this evening
with a private view and reception In the
hemicycle hall of the Corcoran Gallery
will be found more than commonly IN
teresting. Differing from previous eSni-
bitons it Is composed almost exclusively
of local work, and includes not merely
architectural drawings and photosraphs'
but mural paintings, designs for interior
decorations. sculpture. wood carving.
woven fabrics and cmbroideries.
The place of honor on the sem-circuiar
wall has been given TO Il group OF photo-
graphs showing views of the exterior ana
interior of the Union Trust Company
building. designed by Wood. Dom d
Deming. one of the finest structures IN
this city. The notable feature of this
building is that not only has the classical
model been followed in designing its two
facades, but in ordering its plan. IN
architecture the classical style Is usually
associated with comparatively low build
ings but here it is applied to one 10
feet in height-the maximum for which a
permit will be granted in the District of
Columbia and in all probability the limit
to which the style can be pressed.
Form OF bdSll1ca adopted.
Furthermore, for the banking room in
the Union Trust Company's building the
form of the basilica has been adopted
and found peculiarly suitable-a rever-
sion to original use, which Is, in itself,
curiouSly interesting and yet eminently
logical The old Romans were essentially
practical, and If they did not realize the
economic value of sky-scraping buildings
they at least knew how to plan a ''busi-
ness exchange" And both without and
within the character of the decorations
is simple. dignifed and effective. As a
rule it Is thought that ornamentation
should be i'm scale with the thing orna-
mented-that large building should have
heavy decorations-but the truth is that
refinement counterbalances style.
The appearance here suggests broad
treatment. vet careful examination re-
veals much ornament, appropriately
placed In fact. this is one of the build
ings which stand as witnesses to the
fact that in recent years a change has
come over the face of things; that COM
merce Is beginning to recognize the value
of art: that good taste is being found to
pay; that beauty is being demanded as
well as utility.
Nor is this a solitary witness A group
of photographs is shown of the new Sen
ate Office building. designed by Carrere
& Hastings and erected under the di-
rection of Elliott Woods. superintendent
of the Capitol: a splendid building. on
two sides impressive for beauty. and
throughout exquisite in detail and excel
lent In finish: a building modelled di-
rectly on the French Interpretation of the
classical and manifesting considerable
reticence as well as scholarship in its
translation.
From Supervising Architects Office.
Less work than usual comes from the
supervising architects Office, but ,..at
which has been sent is no less merito-
rious. \ high standard has been main
tained in recent years by the architects
working under James Knox Taylors di-
rection and new era in government
architecture is the result 1t is from this
office that the designs for post Offices and
other federal buildings In all parts of the
United States are issued--buildings which
taken as examples. The principal exhibit
made at the present time is the design
for the government building at the
AlaskaYukon exposition-a building ap-
parentIy spacious. well proportioned. not
over-ornate and yet fittingly gay in sug-
gestion-one which. it may well be sup
posed. Is appropriate for Its purpose. One
two post Offices also are shown, sim
pie and dignihed-not especially original.
but eminently suitable.
And after all architecture is not mys-
terry but to a large extent, matter of
good taste and common sense. The same
art are applicable in this particular field.
Good proportions, proper massing Of light
and shadow. color and texture, enter into
the designing Of every building, and man
ifest themselves frankly in the finished
product. Washington has been rather
fortunate in its recent builders and with
in the last few years has greatly in
creased it's quota of fine residences. I'm
provement has, however. come as 1t were,
in spots. There are no regulations gov
erning scale. hence the effect has often
been minimiZed through no individual
fault
Separate Examples Of Residences.
II is specially interesting therefore, to
study the separate examples Of resi-
dences included in this exhibition. Such
for example as those designed by Horn
blower & Marshall for MIR. John Taylor
Arms and Mr.. a. NJ. Lothrop. the one in
the Italian and the other in the French
style. both specially notable: house on
Massachusetts avenue. which stands to
the credit of George Oakley Totten. jr.,
and one or more in the same neighbor-
hood designed by j. II. de Sibour. COM
paratively few small houses are shown.
but one Of remarked merit has been de-
signed by Charles Gregg. This is the
side on which American architecture is
especially weak-the rich are fairly we'll
housed from the standpoint of art and
esthetics. but the poor merely 'comforta-
bly''-witness the conventional rows
springinG up like mushrooms in certain
sections of the city and the dry goods
boxes serving as homes for the average
modest suourbanite
Attention should be called. however to
the photographs Of country home, not
over luxurious, yet essentially charming.
built near Easton. Md. and designed by
u. NJ. Leisenring OF this city. The CO.
Ionial style is adopted. and admirably
the house seems to fit its site-to have
become quite naturally part of its en-
vironment, and to unite with the best
tradition spirit of modernity. Another
cleye: design for a country house is
shown by Prof. Percy Ash. design which
has the additional charm Of being de-
lightfuily rendered.
Solutions Of Problem.
On larger scale are two or three in.
teresting solutions of problem set in a
competition for country club. 10 be
built near Richmond. the most meritorious
Of which is by Wood. Dom & Deming
There are, in fact, several sets of com
petition drawings; one for the Porto
Rico capitol. another for the New York
state prison. neither of which. however
were accorded To Washington archi-
To aio of h,til