Evening star., 1939-09-24
Is Nations Send
Architects 10
Convention
Discussion of u. 5.
Position May
EnIiven Agendo


master architects arriving in Wash
ington today from all sections Of
the United States and an estimated
l5 foreign countries to attend the
list convention of the American In
stitute of Architects at the May
flower Hotel.
An indication was given yesterday
that some of the sessions. such as
that on Federal public works, to
be led by Charles Butler of New
York City on Tuesday morning, may
be enlivened by arguments over
Americas position in a war-torn
world. Edward D. Pierre of In
dianapolis, president of the Indiana
chapter Of the institute, released a
statement declaring the building
industry should concentrate on a
program of preparedness that will
serve the Nation in peace or war"
THE building industry is unpre-
pared TO meet any emergency that
might arise" he said. TT has little
knowledge Of its weakness or its
strength, its manpower and its phys
ical resources. The surrounding dan
gers Of increasing magnitude should
be warning enough to the profession
and the industry to prepare for any
emergency that may present ITSELF"
Session on Americas Tonight.
The inter-relation of architec-
tural influences in South, Central
and North America will be sur
veyed at $3.50 o'clock tonight at the
Corcoran Galleries. President
Charles D. Maginnis of Boston will
receive delegates there after their
o'clock tea at the Georgetown es-
tate Of Robert Woods Bliss and lead
them in an examination of exhibits
illustrating the inquiry.
He will open sessions at the Nav.
flower at 1890 am. tomorrow bv
introducing the foreign guests. Most
OF them came intending to attend
the International Congress of Archi-
[tects-which was to have been held
IN conjunction with the American
Institute, but which was suddenly
postponed with the outbreak of Eu.
ropean hostilities.
English, French, Swedish. Finnish
and Greek delegates are among
those considered certain to attend,
but 13 other European delegations,
including official groups from Ger
many and Poland, Cancelled their
trips. In addition to representatives
from most of the Latin American
nations, there will be visitors from
Japan, the Philippines, South Africa
and India. 1t has been announced.
High lights of the sessions will be
a banquet at 8 pm. Wednesday in
the main ballroom. The convention
will continue through Thursday.
City Plan to Be Reviewed.
During the convention, the archi-
tects will be able to review graphi-
cally the story of the Washington
city plan and its execution from the
beginning to the present and into
the future.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission and the Fine
Arts Commission. by digging into
| their respective closets, have been
able to produce more than enough
in the way of drawings. plans, maps,
treatments, models, etc, to fill the
Interior Department gallery on the
seventh floor.
Both commissions pointed out yes
terday that it was the A. I. A. which
had been instrumental in the return
OF the Federal Government and the
Washington city fathers to the
LEnfant plan for development of
Washington. That was in 1900,
when the A. I. A. authorized a COM
mittee to recommend that a park
commission be created to put devel-
opment of public buildings and
monuments back on the original
plan.
This committee, together with
Santor James Mcmillan, chairman of
the District Committee. helped in the
formation of the Mcmillan Park
Commission, whose plan was sub
mitted in 1901. On this plan, which
sought to adapt the original L'En-
FAINT plan to the city's needs in the
light of 100 years of development
and many more of likely future de-
velopment, is based much of the
city plan as it now exists.
On Display in Galleries.
The L'Enfant and Mcmillan plans,
as well as subsequent additions and
changes, are all on display in the
gallery for the edihcation of the
coming convention.
Because the city plan of Washing
ton now reaches far beyond the lin
its and purlieus of the Federal area
In the District, the maps and models
Of the Park and Planning Commits
sion are exhibited as well. Here are
to be seen the proposed developments
for the whole Washington metro
politan area-parks, parkways, his
torical sites, highways and
recreation areas, as we'll as zoning,
| playground and street studies.
Washington's public buildings are
based, more than anything, on the
revival of classical and adapted
classical style started in 1893 by
the Columbian Exposition in Chi
cago. Most of the buildings on the
Federal Triangle can be traced. back
to the fair.
Many Disagree With Style.
Many members of the A. I. A.,
however, are known as not to be in
agreement with the architectural
treatment given the Federal area
In Washington. These men and
women believe that a more modern
functional" type of architecture
should be given chance.
It has been the basic policy Of
the National Commission of Fine
Arts. with the tacit approval OF the
Park and Planning Commission, to
make Federal buildings conform to
more or less classical lines. Many
critics of this policy are to be found
IN the ranks of the A. I. A.
II criticism or debate as to archi-
tectural values and methods used
IN Washington should arise, the
exhibition Of the two commissions
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