Evening star., 1932-05-14

! acanthuS had grown around the basket
and had assumed a form so pleasing
he introduced the design into his COM
positions.
Great Corinthian columns, support.
| ing an impressive Greek pediment, con-
Stitute the impressive face of the mair
rectangle unit of the building The
eastern portico> Of the building viii
have the same treatment, in keeping
with the ancient precedent. These
! columns will be so feet high and sci
the inspiring tone for the whole struc-
ture.
Not Large Structure.
The court building will not be a
large structure, in comparison with its
companion buildings The problem for
the architect and planning officials was
to create structure which in a sense
would balance the Congressional Ii
brary. For this reason the most i'm
pressive form of exterior was selected
with the Corlnthian style providing a
suitable range of possibilities
The Corinthian, Doric and Ionic ar
chitectural styles we're matters of ex-
actness with the Greeks. Under the
various orders columns must be of a
height so many times the diameter of
the shaft, for instance
Tradition gives the yardstick for the
new creation here. In column meas
urement, cornice detail, pediment,
molding and frieze the Greek propor-
tions will be followed with exactness.
Rules of design laid down 1000 years
ago will be applied as the best tradi-
tions Of the classic order are followed
There will be no attempt at originality
as to details and yet the building here
VIII be a new composition and not a
copy OF any one ancient building It
is the details of design and the spirit
of the style that are being emulated.
Provision Is made in the final design
even for ornaments to be placed at
the apex of the pediment and on the
extremities of the cornice of the por-
tico, such as seen In Greecian archi-
lecture. These conventional ornaments
are known as acroteriums
The architects stress that the build
ing is not designed to be elaborate;
that the desire was to avoid any at
tempt at a theatrical" composition
With the classic. impressive, simple
lines of beauty In the Greek propor-
tions. they saw, there is no need to at
tempt to "gild the lily"
Long Consultations.
The architects. Cass Gilbert, Cass
GllDerI, IT., and John r. Rockart, spent
months consulting with members of the
United States Supreme Court Building
Commission, with judges, lawyers, the
marshals and other officials associated
with the project and with the ultimate
public use of the structure, to determine
the practical needs of all concerned.
The practical needs are accounted
for, as well as the artistic. Visiting
lawyers will be provided a library for
their use while practicing before the
court. Members of the Supreme Court
bench will have their own library. Rare
law books. for which there Is a call only
on special occasions, will be housed in
the Library of Congress. An under
ground tunnel will assure quick transfer
to the court In case of sudden demand.
There will be conference rooms for
consultation on international matters.
so that no longer will court officials
and others have to use other buildings
here.
Four spacious inner garden court
yards, lying between units of the wings
running along either side of the cen
tral rectangular structure. will provide
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