Evening star., 1933-09-30
new SOCIAL ORDER
SEEN BY ARCHITECT.
Charles D. Maginnis Expects
Changes That Will Affect
National Building.


the American Institute of Architects
1t may as we'll be accepted that, how
ever temporary its design, the national
recovery act marks the opening of a
new social order. he declares.
The grave predicament which pro-
voked it is so clearly attributable to a
demoralized industrial system as to
leave this beyond question" says Mr..
Maginnis. 1T functioned tolerably in
time Of incorrigible prosperity but be-
trayed its tragic weakness in the day OF
need
Capital and the new mechanism to-
gether proved to great a load for poor
humanity. There is some apprehen-
sion. it is true, that the daring nature
of the program involves a vague dis
loyalty to the American credo. but it is
bound so to shape itself as to put nc
undue strain on our political orthodoxy
The shifting of the national business
to new foundations is, of course, pro-
cess which involves embarrassing and
violent dislocation.
Will Be Anxious Period.
There will be an anxious period of
readjustment which will no doubt be
borne by the American public with the
same philosophic temper which during
these years Of adversely has drawn the
surprised attention of the world The
merit Of the Presidents plan, take
it. is not to be weighed by its capacity
to recapture the feverish business of
1928. but lies rather in its admirable
purpose to create such dispenSation as
shall guarantee to every worker secure
livelihood and an enlarged opportunity
for happiness.
1T is clear that the achievement of
these conditions will have interesting
reactions on the national culture. The
international concept Of an America
grossly occupied with the material
things of life has significantly persisted
in spite of all our effort to invalidate
it. A couple of decades ago, Europe
would probably have scoffed at the idea
that America was likely soon to con-
tribute anything of consequence, for
example, to the art Of the world.
And yet we have achieved in that
time an architecture of such independ-
ence and authority that there Is q
disposition to admit even our leader
ship in this field. The imagination and
technical skill by which this new di-
rection has been given to American
genius are likely soon to have more
spacious opportunity. In the past the
talent Of the architect has been re-
stricted to the discriminating patron.
well-to-do and the monumentalities of
the church and state. It has served
the higher forms of commerce, and
added occasional drama to the sky
lines Of our cities. In the magnitude
of the national scene, however, the
architect has been a carver of cherry
stones.
1T Is calculated that less than 20
per cent of the buildings erected in the
United States have the benefit Of his
service Communities enlist it for the
greater beauty Of their schools and IL
braries, but neglect it where its larger
exercise might secure beautiful cities.
Hardly any CT our great municipalities
have dignified approaches. Many are
reached by the railroad through areas
of tin cans and a general litter Of
discarded things.
"Zoning was the first advance in the
effort at civic control of individual
enterprise. Excepting Washington alone.
our cities have grown like Topsy. Oc-
casionally private initiative has operated
with intelligence and conscious regard
for the communal interest. Too fire.
Quently 1t has been selfish and has hurt
grievously Often 1t ceases to move at
all. and, in this paralysis, We have the
slum. moral and physical cancer
which offers grave challenge to our
civilization.
Sees End of Skyscrapers.
"In the more rational and disciplined
society which is now indicated, the
humblest will be made to feel a new
sense of responsibility to his commu-
nifty. Private initiative will have to
submit to the guidance OF the corporate
Intelligence in the civic and national
enterprise with long view to the gen.
eral interest. In the shaping of the
city, the architects concern until now
has been impatiently limited with
minor problems of its articulation. He
has punctuated the skylines of New
York. for example. with skyscrapers
without having anything to say about
their limited nationality.
The community planning of the fu-
ture will be too scientific to tolerate
piquant and picturesque episode in the
evolution Of our American architecture.
but the signs are unmistakable that its
irresponsible vogue Is near an end.
The leisure resulting from the new
limits in the hours Of work is bound to
have interesting consequences. It will
stimulate the gradual withdrawal of the
worker from the immediate neighbor-
hood Of the city even to substantial dis
tance. The country life of today has
no longer the old austerities and the
invitation it offers of freedom and
health and comfort will be- accepted
eagerly even by the low wage Garner.
This movement will mean a great de-
velopment of small housing constructed
on principles which shall bring the cost
of the individual dwelling to the ire
ducible minimum
Opportunity will be afforded for
demonstrating how ingenuity in design
and material, where assisted by gracious
landscaping, can be made to assemble
even such unpromising units into COM
munitieS of positive attraction. The
more comfortable domesticities will be
affected only less. and the hegira of
apartment dwellers is particularly
indicated.
Elimination of Cost Vital
institutional architecture will, of
course be correspondingly Influenced
by these reactions In all this process
OF readjustment, the element of cost
will figure as much more vital and
determining matter than it ever did
in the luxurious days from which we
have emerged and. whether we like it
or not, traditional sentiment may be
expected to give way, in the sheer in
UeTeSt Oh CHtdpueSS, 10 tue IedllSIH VI
science.
The time is so out of joint that we
must resign ourselves to many things
which offend old sentiments. and those
who protest the intellectually Of the
new design may be compelled to en-
brace it as stark compromise with
the depleated pocketbook."
Mr. Maginnis. member of the firm
OF Maginnis g. Walsh. Boston, is inter-
nationally known for his work in &C.
clesiastical design Among the more