The Detroit times., 1914-10-01
Old Difficulties Converted Into
Glorious Opportunities and
Permanently Recognized as
True Principle Of Art

Mindful Of Public Welfare.
All the powers with which he Is In
vested are to be used with Judgment
While he must condemn bad work. he
A to commend good work. Intelli-
gent initiative on the part OF crafts
men and workmen must be recognized
and encouraged. and he b urged to
make evident his appreciation Of the
dignity Of the artisans function. He ,
10 to be mindful Of the public welfare I
and participate In those movements
for public betterment In which his
special training and experience quail
|ify him to act. Even under his clients
Instructions he II not to engage In or
encourage any practices contrary TO
law or hostile to public interest. for,
~ he u not obliged to accept . given
piece Of work, he can not, by urging
that he has but followed his client's
instructions. escape the condemnation
attaching to his acts. He u to support
al public oficials who have charge
OF building In the rightful perform
ance Of their public duties, and care
fully comply with al building laws
and regulations: should any such ap-
pear to him unwise or unfair. he is
to sndeavor to have them altered.
30 rigid code demands high char
actsr n well AZ undoubted skill and
knowledge. And a. the public has the
right to demand qualifications needed
for the proper invention. illustration
and supervision of all building opera
tionz. architects have TO pass . siren
nous examination before they are per
United 10 practice in Illinois. This re-
quirement has put . stop to the cus-
tom which prevailed about Is years.
when men with imperfect architect
urai training could exercise the fanc-
tions OF the profession at their own
sweet will.
The skyscraper are has called for
the exercise OF uncommon ability on
the part Of modern architects. Rsa-
sonabie acQuaintance with the prin-
|ciples Of structural shgineering n
now OF prime Importance to them all.
The architect and engineer must work
hand In hand to achieve the best re-
suits. The engineer makes accurate
and elaborate calculations OF difhcult
problems IN construction. his primary
object being to obtain the maximum
OF strength with the minimum Of
material. while the architect pays
more attention to the ssthetic side
Of engineering. The logical archi-
tecturai solution Of the skyscraper
problem VIII bel found in q scientific
relation between architecture and en-
|! cheering.
Psrmaneney 70 Trus Principle.
With the enormous advantages
which modern engineering has
brought to the world It has brought
this Disadvantages -that for the first
time in human history broad line.
has been drawn between scientific con-
struction and artistic construction.
and that the designers OF the one
class do not hold themselves RESPONSE
BILE for the looks Of their work. II
an engineer builds safely and cheaply
and scientifically. his work may be
~ ugly a. possible without any Inn
pairment Of his professional reputa,
tion.
Prom the owners point OF view. the
architect II practical man. serving
! his client to the best Of his ability.
sacrincing no inch Of room anywhere
to architectural effect, but employing
every means OF utilising the area and
the altitude. A sacrifice OF any prac-
teal requirements to appearances is
mot only bad business, but bad faith.
and likewise bad architecture. But q
building may have al the practical
Requirements demanded OF It. beGdes
lbeing a. logical an possible, and yet
be ugly. when It might be made highly
artistic and effective IN emphasis and
differentiation. artistic spacing Of dec.
lontion, the placing and scale Of d.
tail. and in the study given to his
design as . whole. based on function,
treason and logic.
Popular Judgment unpn buildings a.
works OF art u mostly vitiatsd By the
ttAoHshtless habit 81 sscrabsns 70 the
architect his advantages a. merits.
and. correspondinsly. hh disadvan-
fases - faults. Criticism must be
kept clear Of this confusion. The
problem confronting the architect in
any case h to make the most Of the
advantages and minimize the disad-
Ivantages, and to do these things with
the lesst sacrince OF the strictly utili-
tartan purposes Of the structure, and
yet to make ~ expressive. harmon
ious and beautiful building a the
conditions permit.
This can only be accomplished by
the most earnest and conscisntioue
study On the particular problem IN.
volvsc TO cenvsrt dlncuItin into
opportunities shosld ~ che aim u
every architect worthy q he nHms.
II 10 on this neory dat the 6rsot
majority Of De<ro1t arehifssn -
vorkins. Tnofr hDorp have o1suo6v