Evening star., 1937-02-28
By Nell Van Dusseldorf
Smith.
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW Of Wash

city. From the air, the city resembles
a classic tapestry of cleaning whlte
marble edifices interviewer with
emerald parks and vivid stretches OF
sparkling blue water spanned by snow
white bridges.
The new Federal Triangle, with its
20 acres Of white and gray archl-
tectural beauty is easily distinguished
first from the sky. Miles and miles of
white concrete and gray asphalt
streets lined with business houses and
Government buildings preponderately
white and gray, further accent the
pleasing symphony of gray and white.
The White House, the first public
building erected in Washington, has
stood, symbolic in its immaculate spot
leSSneSS, ever since 1914, when lnvad-
ing English destroyed the first Execu-
tive Mansion, by fire. The Virginia
freeStone walls were painted white
then, to cover the blackened ruins.
Every two years, new coat OF white
paint is applied to the Presidents
house. During alternate years, the
exterior is washed to maintain its
effectiveness as an example OF chaSte
beauty.
Inspired by the unblemished white
ness of the Executive Mansion, white
marble and granite structures grad
ually began to appear. A single house
or building among rows OF attached
red brick ones would be painted white
or gray. Occasionally a gray church
or hotel was added.
White and gray paint has been ap-
piled to many old red brick buildings
on Pennsylvania avenue and other
main streets to make them harmonize
with the new Federal edifices. Many
large red brick homes in outlying
districts have also been painted these
tones. Dupont Circle is now almost
entirely white and gray buildings.
THE development of the recent $780,
- 100000 Federal building program
has speeded the transition to white
and gray harmony by leaps and
bounds.
The most magnificent examples OF
white marble are the new Supreme
Court Building. the Lincoln Memorial
and the Folger Shakespeare Library,
which still retain their brilliant white
ness. None the less effective are the
House and Senate extensions OF the
Capitol Building the City Post Once,
the Arlington Memorial Amphitneater
and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, all
of exquisite white marble.
An imposing impression IS made by
the white marble home OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture. 1t faces an eX-
pansive green area on the Mall Wnlch
enhances its regal beauty and Wortnliy
represents the vast farming interests
OF the Nation.
The National Archives Building OF
Indiana limestone and MASSACHUSETTS
granite depicts the grace and impress
sive beauty that becomes its high Of
fee as the repository OF the vaiuaole
records Of the Republic.
The sandstone ond granite Treas
,,rv Building, with Ionic columns and
porticos like those of the Temple OF
Minerva In Athens, does no. do credlt
to its glory. Robert Mills, the archi-
tect, did not have his way as to It's
location. The setting lacks space for
the enlivening green surroundings
that would display its fine gray lines.
The gray granite State, War and
Navy Building with 500 rooms and
miles of marble halls is one OF the
most magnificent Office buildings in
the world Although an unsuccessful
adaptation of French Renaissance
architecture, it is arrestingly impress
sive.
The warm gray of the new Post
Office Building enhances Washing
tons evolving color scheme. The
graceful curve and columned arches
satisfy the artistic sense Of perfection.
Gray Alabama granite and white
Indiana limestone form the exterior
of the Department of Justice. Much
of the white granite used in Wash
tngton's structures came from New
HAMPSHIRE and Vermont. The sand
stone is a product Of nearby Virginia
and Maryland.
THE imposing new Interior Depart
= ment Building is another I'M
oetus toward the changing color de-
velopment. Should it be balanced by
the new War Department Building, as
recommended by the President, it will
further emphasize the color trend.
Andrew Melons munificent dona-
tion for a national art gallery prom
tses further expansion of the arch1-
tectural ideas already incorporated IN
the National Archives Building by
John Russell Pope, and continues the
new color scheme. Pope, prominent
New York architect, has been working
on tentative plans for the new Gallery
of Art for some time.
The Government maintains eternal
vigilance over its beautiful white
buildings. Just now the City Library's
white marble is being cleaned. The
pristine whitenesS of the Maryland
marble used in the Washington Monu-
ment has recently been restored. The
Evening Star Building, resplendent
with its newly-cleaned white marble
and the white marble Pharmacy Build
ing are two business houses that con-
tribute to the white harmony.
The American Red Cross and the
Pan-American-one of the most beau
tiful pubic buildings In Ine WORLD
are in the white marble class. The
main building of the Soldiers Home
is constructed of the same enduring
material.
Graying white granite dignifies the
exteriors Of the Congressional Library,
the Union Station and the Memorial
Continental Hall, as well as the facade
of the Botanic Gardens. Most of
WasMngton's monuments are white
marble or gray granite. The old
churches are red brick, but the new
ones are of white and gray materials.
The Capitals many hotels follow the
new color tendency.
VXTASHINGTON'S classic structures
wv are as enduring as the rocks.
49,.