Evening star., 1926-11-21
A Brighter Building Prospect.


A great advantage is to be gained
from the taking Of the Mall-Avenue
triangle as q whole for public building
purposes in that in the designing of
be given to the architectural effect
Of the group. Under the old method
Of single site buying and building EN-
placement structures were planned
without regard to any general scheme
Of architecture. Each new addition
to the Government's equipment at the
Capital was designed as a unit. and
the effect today is a mixture of styles
that puzzles the visitor Of taste and
embarrwaaes Americans who take
pride ir. the Federal City. Three OF
the most important buildings in
washington the Treasury, the White
House ana the tri.department struc-
ture TO the west. represent three to-
tally different styles.
At present In the area contemplated
for the group of new buildings pro-
program there Is only one that may
be considered az of Capital style. That
is tho District Building. or municipal
headquarters: Ons other public build
ing eccupie1 thie srace. erected about
thirty yea.e ,re end designed as a
city post ofrcec tut later turned over to
the Post onaW. Department for its
headquarters It is from an archi-
teotural poinA Of view one Of the most
gyasyous mistakes ever committed In
Washingten Serhaps it In the worst.
for e'ssr the much .dertded Pension
Building. IN Jud'oiavy Square. unlove.
ly though II iS because Of the ma.
tertal Of ~hioh II Is built. has q Ger.
tain dignity et line.
The Post once Building, which
standS Qua 20 abruptly and domi.
nantlS on pAnnsylvania avenue. un-
like anything else in Washington, is
a relio o. period Of unhappy whole.
sale arohtteeture Of the past century.
It was enc ID . Number OF pattern.
like structures conceived by the ONCE
Of the supervising architect of the
Treasury Ard asHFEed to Washing
ton. while its replioaG were scattered
elsswhass. It VIII not 1T In with the
new scheme Of O consistently designed
group AZ public buildings. but its
preseIcs should and will not prevent
the development of the group ar.
tistioallyt For the day may come
when the Government will see its
way to Its replacement by another
building, harmonious with its neigh.
bors, o. perhaps its revision in ex.
ter4or appearance
Save 60 the Post ONCE Department,
with rs towering spire and gabled
root the new group from Seventh
street west to Fifteenth and from
PennEytvanta avenue to the Mall will
presumably create a true "sky line'
OF plAAEEng character. There should
be no ktysorapers. and 1t is not con.
ceivahls that The planners Of tho new
buildtu&s WIN venture into attitudes
for tia aMa6 Of ou1eo contents. There
viii be plenty Of space within the gen.
ersl kts area for q proper develop.
snen1 iAterally. Perhstsnce In q har-
1nontsna scheme fer the new build.
angs wsn oAuse this single monstrosity
tor suEA @ ito clsmor the more
loudly for revision or replacement.
Theev should be no more granite
buildings in this city. Marble should
be the material used throughout in
the new constructions. There should
be no spires or gables or mansards.
Uniformity, with OF course distinc.
tion through differing styles OF
treatment. viii be more impressive
and more lastingly effective than di,
versity. When the errors Of the past
are cured, as they should be. however
great the cost, Washington will pre-
sent an aspect of dignity which as
result OF piecemeal constructions In
,he past It has thus far lacked.