The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-02-10

These sketches have just received
the official approval of the Fine
Arts Commission as thoroughly Ia
keeping architecturally and in
landscaping with the plans Of the
United States Government 10 make
Washington the most beautiful and
artistic Capital city In the world.
100000 TO Be Cost
The new embassy for which the
British Parliament has appropriated
E140OOO approximately S7OO, 0OO),
win be erected on an irregularly
shaped tract Of about three and
one-half acres OF ground facing
fashionable Massachusetts, Avenue
and adjacent to the United States
Naval Observatory.
The site was purchased q year
ago and approved by Sir Edwin
Lutyens. British government archi-
structure ana viii supervise its
construction.
Due In Spring
Sir Edwin will come TO Washing.
ton in the spring when the plans
and specifications will be submitted
to contractors for bidding and the
contracts will be awarded. Assoc
ciated with him In preparing the
detailed drawings IL Frederick
Brooke, Washington architect.
Two years ago Sir Edwin was
awarded the ,gold medal Of the
American Institute Of Architecture.
He Is now in India supervising the
completion OF the new Indian
capitol at Delhi for the British
government.
The new site was purchased from
Harry Wardman, Washington cap
italist, a native of England. In
the transaction Wardman purchased
the present embassy property on
Connecticut Avenue.
Sir Esme Enthusiastic
Sir Esme today recalled that
when the present embassy was
built in 1870 it was far out in the
country with COW pastures to the
rear reaching back to what is now
Rock Creek Park several blocks dis.
tant.
While the city eventually will
grow up to the new location. the
plans for the new embassy win in
sure a permanent degree of privacy
and seclusion.
The new building will be of
Queen Anne style of architecture OF
brick with columns of Indiana, free
stone. It viii have high pitched
Dutch type roof.
The chancery viii occupy the
front, this being built in the form
of a hollow square. It viii be two
stories. Back of It, but connected
by a porte cochere and an en-
closed corridor win be the main en-
bassy unit.
Full View Planned
AZ the land elevation rises sharp.
ly toward the rear the main unit
viii rest on ground about thirty
feet higher than the front Of the
chancery so that the latter will not
obstruct the imposing architecture
OF the embassy proper.
On the main floor OF the embassy
unit there Will be spacious recep-
ton rooms. parlors and library
advantageously arranged for large
receptions and social functions.
The ambassadors offices will be
in a separate wing leading off from
this. There will be large promen-
ade balcony.
The Ambassadors residential
quarters will occupy the second
floor.
A detached garage will be erected
in a secluded corner Of the grounds.
Work Due in June
Construction Of the new embassy
is expected to begin in June. with
anticipation that it win be ready for
occupancy within two years, in any
event not later than 1880. 1
When It is completed It will be
one of the show places of Washing
ton. along with the White House.
the Capitol and other public build
ings.
There will be nothing to approach
1t among the 50-odd foreign embas.
sizes and LEGATIONS here.
1t is doubtful If there win be
more ornate structure of its kind
in any other capital.
Mhc0Mc Uni n