Evening star., 1935-12-21
EUROPE'SBU|LDERS|
PROFIT BY SCIENCE
Use New for Old and Old for
New in Solving Materials
Problem,
BY JAMES WALDO FAwCETT.

W. fA"SE11s
Contemporary architectural deVel-
opments in Europe reflect the perfec-
ton to which inventive science has at
tanned In the creation of new ma
terials for old uses and in the adap-
tation Of old materials for new uses.
To cite a single example, aluminium
may be mentioned. Under the terms
Of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany
was driven to employ light materials
where heavy materials formerly had
been employed. The scientists OF the
country applied themselves immedl-
ately to the problem, and one result OF
their researches and experiments was
the improved variety OF aluminium
=, which now is popular throughout
England, France, Belgium ana Inc
Netherlands, as well as within the
Reich. Not all of it is fabricated IN
Germany: much of it probably comes
from the United States. but the vogue
for 1t traces back to the adjustment
period" just after the World War.
Has Endless Uses.
The list of purposes which the clean,
strong but light, white metal serves
Is endless. 1t is used in the manu-
facture of automobiles, airplanes,
railway trains and steamships. The
electric light and radio industries take
up quantities of it. Furniture, kitchen
and table ware and ornaments OF every
kind are made Of it. Indeed, it has
gone far to replace steel, iron, brass,
bronze, lead, copper and zinc.
It has a rival, however, in chromium,
a harder and more durable metal
which takes a brilliant polish and is
especially fashionable for SNOWY
purposes, such as shop fronts, hotel
fittings, the decoration OF theater
lobbies, dance halls and cafes. Rela-
lively costly, it nevertheless gradually
Is coming into extensive use, especially
in cities like London and Paris, Brus-
sells and Berlin.
Another novelty is stained glass of
a new type. Mirrors, particularly, OF
pale green or pink tint are in favor
in Great Britain and on the Continent.
Table tops, too, of colored opaque
glass, may be seen everywhere. The
amount of shaded glass used at the
Brussels Exposition must have run
to thousands of tons. Some OF the
most attractive of the exhibition
buildings had decorative glass for their
adornment. Electric signs OF the new
luminous varieties made the scene
magic spectacle by night. Authentic
artists. it was obvious, had oeen
responsible for the designs.
Brick in New Types.
Brick, too, of many different ne"
types is being employed to striking
advantage. and the same may be said
for tile. In the Netherlands both are
represented in all recent construction
projects. A number of beautiful new
churches, several score school houses
and many department stores and shops,
in all of which tapestry brick and pol
ished tile have been used, are to be
seen en- route from Amsterdam to
Brussels and also along the road be-
tween The Hague and Utrecht.
Still another feature common in
Europe at present is that of compost
ton flooring. 1t may be found in
brown and green, black and white in
such new structures as the American
Express Co. Building in Paris.
Cement also should be mentioned,
especially for industrial purposes-the
construction of factories. like those OF
the cellophane syndicate between Paris
and Havre, for instance. Carefully
handled. it can be and is effectively
employed.
Bronze and Brass Common.
With regard to bronze and brass, it
should be said that both are common
in the form of small decorations. The
new American Embassy in Paris has a
fine bronze statuary group to embel-
lish its facade.
Finally, the constantly increasing
use OF light as an architectural guam
tity deserves attention. Designers
specify broad or high decorative win
dows to admit the sun, and the Gus
todians of public monuments like
Westminster Abbey and the Arc de
Triomphe have arranged for them to
be f1oodlit at night.
The abbey, by the way, recently has
been whitewashed. There was some
protest against it, but the ecclesiastical
authorities ordered the work done on
the theory that the lime coating will
aid in preserving the stone.