Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-28
OPPORTUNITY SEEN
FOR ARCHITECTURE
"Debunking Period" Passed,
| Says w. p. Barney of
Philadelphia.

That America today finds herself on
the threshold Of architectural oppor-
tunity, but that there are dangers as
well as possibilities ahead, is the opinion
Of william Pope Barney, Philadelphia
architect, who won the Architectural
Leagues gold medal for architecture at
the 1929 Architectural and Allied Arts
Exposition.
Discussing the development Of archi-
lecture during the last half century,
Mr.. Barney refers to the years imme-
diately following the World War as a
"debunking period" which produced
revolutionary changes. In presenting
his views he said
THE last so years have witnessed in
American architecture an evolution at
first gradual, but Of late so accelerated
Is to present the aspect of a veritable
revolution. AS with all violent changes.
this period is fraught with danger as
well as possibilities of significant
progress.
Bad Taste Period.
"The years Just prior to 1880 found
architecture in the grip of a personal
eclecticism of appallingly bad taste and
SNUG conceit. Then followed an era OF
development under the leadership OF a
group of young architects but recently
returned from foreign travel and study,
whose more trained appropriations began
TO be felt as a reigning influence re-
sulting in structures of more considered
plan and seemly detail BY 1910
America led the architectural world with
buildings giving evidence of profound
knowledge on the part Of their designers
of the subtleties of the various historic
styles.
Postwar Debunking.
Then came the World War with its
combined enonomic, social and psyche
logical changes, inaugurating de-
bunking' period whose revolutionary
influence brought with it both bless
ing and a curse: a blessing, in that
architects are being asked for more
logical and scientific approach to their
problems and are responding with
buildings functional1y more perfect and
economical, structurally more scientific
and esthetically more sincerely express
sive; a curse, In that cultured appre-
citation Of the beauties of the past,
which IN architecture as in all OF the
arts Of man is q necessary prelude to
sound evolution in the present, Is at a
discount
"The danger that this catholic appre-
citation may perpetuate the consciously
stylistic approach of the last decade is
the besetting fear of the radical mod
eYnists, who therefore feel called upon
10 eliminate all trace of historical prec-
edent. and in their effort to avoid
the rock Of style historique' frequently
run on the shoals of style moderne'
with the same self consciously man
nered approach they would avoid.
New World Architecture.
"Their enthusiasm for the fresh, the
different, the startling, so disputes the
more conservative that they withhold
from the ranks of the modern move
ment the leaven of their good taste
which is so bitterly needed; so that the
New World architecture as it has
been called, gives less evidence Of being
benefited by the refining influence of
the last half century than does the
more conservative work show the SIM
plifying influence of the modern move
Inent, a movement having in 1t so
mucA Of good sense, though sometimes
80 little of good taste.
THE year 1881 finds America on the
threshold of opportunity. The two
elements Of q sincere, beautiful and
useful architecture are with us; a taste
refined by a study of the masterpieces
Of the past and an enthusiasm for the
direct functional approach. Too often
we find these elements in separate
camps What we most need Is a weld
ing Of them into a unified impulse
which will bring forth a significant
development in architectural evolution.
Norwegian whalers expect q record
catch this year.