Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-06
Project
| FOR BEAUT|FY|NG
ID. c. GIVEN IMPETUS
Architects in Session With
Treasury Board Agree
on Building Plans.
CONFERENCE SOLVES
| NUMEROUS PROBLEMS
Effort Is Made to Develop Motif for
| U. S. Structures Favored
by Mellon.

Further steps in plans for the great
Federal triangle upon which two monu-
mental buildings now are rising have
been taken by the Treasury Board of
Architectural Consultants of the Treas
ury Department, it was learned today.
Leading architects from various Sec
tons of the country, who are here for
few days in session with the board,
have reached agreement on certain
phases of the silhouette of the wholq
composition" This was possible, it was
explained by Edward H. Bennett, chair
man of the board, through study of the
miniature cardboard models of buildings
which are being used to construct a
graphic picture of what the entire
triangle bounded by Pennsylvania ave-
nue., Fifteenth street and B street will
look like when completed.
The principal features of the NGiangle
have not been disturbed from the gen
eral plan already adopted, but much
progress has been made at this meet
ing, Mr.. Bennett said, on many features
OF the architectural problems involved.
Combine Reserve and "Vivacity."
For instance, he explained. the archi-
motif which Secretary of the Treasury
Mellon is eager to have in the triangle,
whereby the group of buildings will
maintain all the reserve" necessary to
Government architecture and at the
same time introduce enough life and
vivacity" to give the group of struc-
lures diversity in plan and perspective.
The streets which will cut through
the triangle from north to south, IN
Guiding Fourteenth, Twelfth, Tenth,
Ninth and Seventh, will receive treat
nent designed to give an architectural
announcement that the public is en-
teTing the domain of the Federal Gov
eminent"
At Fourteenth street, for instance,
pylons will be erected as pillarlike
architectural features which will stand
one on either side of the entrance to
the triangle, probably between the
street pavement and sidewalk. They
would not in any way obStruct the
flow of traffic, which will be very heavy,
but they will be designed to give an
impressive and dignified entrance effect
to this traffic artery.
Details of the architectural motif to
be placed on other street entrances 70
the triangle have not all been worked
out, but it was said that at each street
entrance there will be established some
such motif to carry along the general
architectural line of the whole COM
position of buildings. In some instances
it is possible. according to present pros
poets, that an overhead feature of some
kind might be adopted, but in no place
will there be developed anything to
impede traffic.
Speedy Action Is Urged.
One thing of Importance upon which
the board of consultantS is agreed, it
was said, is that the plan for the con-
struction of buildings in the triangle
should be pushed forward as rapidly as
possible to be consistent with the ap-
preparation policy of the Government
The triangle appears to be the largest
group of public buildings in prospect in
the world, and. according to the board,
will be the heart of larger develop
ment centering around it and including
authorized and contemplated works for
the Union Station Plaza, the Municipal
Building group and further beautifica-
ton of the Mall itself.
Specific sketches in preliminary form
have been under study for the Depart
ment of Justice, Department of Labor,
the Interstate Commerce Department
and independent establishments. The
models of some of the buildings to be
erected in the triangle are exceedingly
picturesque and true to detail giving
the architects a much better three
dimension picture of the whole COM
position than any previous sketches
made on paper.
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon
has taken keen interest in the whole
development and has spent some time
with the board working over the model
triangle. The triangular table repre-
senting the triangle itself is about 20
feet long and has been erected In a
room adjacent to Secretary Melons
private Office.