The sun., 1916-09-17

This 10 the third article Of .
series By Mr.. Townsena On the
seed Of better aesi9ning Of city
buiIdinss.1
There has been considerable discussion
OF late. especially among the more dis
cerning iaymen. regarding the freer use
Of color In the ronts OF commercial
buildings. The feeling for such an In
n~ovation seems to be fairly widespread.
Many have been impressed with the
need OF some change from the existing
conditions. but through lack Of knowl-
edge or experienced observation. merely
realized that the prevailing dull tone
was unsatisfactory and should be
relieved.
When color was suggested to them 40
Q rerncdy and their attention directed to
Q number OF examples to be seen about
the city. they invariably concluded that
q more liberal utilization Of contrasting
and permanent colors I'm the designs for
street fronts Of buildings would b. a
welcome deviation from the recent
practice.
A contemplation Of some of the build
ings lately erected and remembering the
probable effect of the new zone ordi.
nance will recall Robert Services de-
scripticn of London: There confronting
me was street after street Of .
houses built all in the same way. Nay, I
do not exaggerate. They were as alike
as nine pins, dirty. drab cubes
oh. what a welter of architectural
crime -
So far as commercial architecture Is
concerned tthis classification includes
buildings erected In blocks where the
income feature IL largely. II not wholly,
the dominating factor at their inception)
Fifth avenue from Washington Square
to the Plaza presents almost a chrono-
logical history Of the development of
his type of building in this city. Fortu-
nately for the beauty and attractiveness
OF SO important a street. some Of the
treatments which mark certain stages
Of the evolution were seldom repeated.
Moving northward from the arch
and leaving behind the relics Of the
white trimmed red brick domiciles Of
q bygone time, the painted and cast
iron embellished houses are found as
reminders also Of a day long past.
a little further along the full de-
velopment Of the cast iron era has left
It's monument This Is followed closely
by the remains OF that once popular
but short lived obsessIon for rock
faced stone. Tit red pressed brick
and stone combination next made its
mark, and that carries us to the In
diana limestone Invasion. which Is now
80 much a part Of and has exerted so
great an influence on the work OF the
present day.
The upper part Of the venue shows
a more heterogeneous collection of
architectural efforts. among which Is
easily observable the struggle for some
thing different. something better. The
many varieties OF small fronts that are
scattered along both sides Of the street
show much thought and care. and while
good design did not always emerge I'M
scathed from the conflict. there is a
constant tendency toward more adap-
table and better architecture.
Many experiments and numerous i'm
provements We're possible in these
smaller facades which would have been
impracticable in larger elevations. but
the Ideas developed In the adaptation
Of material. form and color give excel
lent suggestions and may serve as mod
els for greater structures.
There are any nuuber Of most sue
cessful creations, gems of architectural
conception and execution. which are a
credit to the designers, the owners and
the city.
Here again appears that influencing
condition. mentioned in "A previous arti-
Gle. of the owner erecting and occupy
ing his own premises, a circumstance
that has the most salutary effect upon
the designs for any class OF buildings.
The problem presented is to get builders,
owners and architects who erect build
ings only for the purpose OF sale or
lease. to use the same taste n dis
elimination.
There Is another cycle of architectural
history illustrated in the edifices that
ere scattered along this popular thor
oughfare. The work at the lower end
10 generally In the Colonial style. one
OF the chief characteristics OF which is
the broad. plain surfaces, enriched at
the point OF natural accent by the con-
SENTATIVE use OF refined detail. From
this pleasing and d!gnified beginning the
treatment mounts by multiplying mean
ihgless ornament to n point where there
is no space remaining on which to plant
ar elaboration. Then a process OF elm
1nation sets In and the upper part OF
the avenue shows a return to the re-
straint OF the Colonial period. Orna-
mentation Is being omitted unless there
Is some very good reason for elaborat-
Ing the particular pot or feature, and
then the well studied detail is given
enough background of plain surface to
bring out the full beauty and meaning
Of the design.
While many OF the buildings men
t!oncd are very successful, pleasing to
e-chi'ect and layman alike. each having
It's own particular charm when cQnsil-