The Wilmington morning star., 1947-04-27
Wallace Harrison Directs
His DUN United Nations

so that it will be at once a symbol
of one world and an efficient place
of business.
He makes the gigantic task
sound as simple as ABC:
when you plan any building,
S~kyscraper or cottage, you simply
find out how much space a single
human being needs and then you
multiply that by the number of
people you want to accommo-
date"
At the outset, Harrison wasn't
particularly worried about the job
Of planning the United Nations
headquarters. But he was con-
cerned about the International
makeup of his planning board.
Each country was permitted to
make nominations and the nomi-
nees were confirmed by the U.
NJ" he explained. 1T was quite
natural to think the board would
be a bunch of prima donnas who
would not accept any compromise
VII tllSll lucas.
1T seemed like an impossible
idee. Like putting Dali, Ell Greco.
Rembrandt, Picasso and Gains
borough into a oom and telling
them to create one single canvas"
Brown : eyed. balding Harrison
grinned and lit another cigarette.
But things couldn't have
worked out smoother. All Of us
realize that this board is a pretty
good test of the whole United Ma
tons concept. If a group OF archi-
tects and engineers can't get to-
gether and plan a series of build
lngs, how can We expect the ma
tons to get together On a plan
for peace?"
The boss architect of the U. N.
sounds as though his job we're
simply that of a master-sergeant.
Actually, this mar who had an
important part in the planning of
Rockefeller Center, holds a veto
power similar to that of a big
power in the U. N. Security DUN
ell. He has not had occasion to
use it, and he doesn't intend to-.
I'VE put the board in a big room
with drafting boards, assistant
and plenty of space to argue,
sketch and work." he said. "They
work Independently and get to-
gether for long conferences. No
one has tried to steam-roller a pet
icea and no has gotten tenn
peramental."
Flfty-one = year old Harrison,
whose work and world travels
have made him a true diplomat
and cosmopolite, is honestly en-
t%husiastic about the team-play.
The abilities and specialties of
the board + as far apart as the
geographical space that separates
their countries, but they nave a
common meeting ground in their
knowledge of modern architec-
ture."
At one pole there's Nikolai D.
Rassov of the U.S.S.R., a crack
Eeavy-industry engineer of his ma
ton. Bassov's prime interest is
the utility end of constructions:
heating and cooling systems, boil
e:rs, elevators and escalators and
the handling of traffic.
Charles lie Corbusier, enc OF
Frances best known architect, is
!, at the other end. He is first an
: artist, concerned with beauty OF
line and the play of light and
2 shadow. Famed as a designer OF
: urban and country homes and
estates, lie Corbusier agrees with
j., Bassov on n important point: a
building must be useful and eff
. ficiently planned to have interior
and exterior beauty.
Between the two are men from
: a variety of nations, each with a
special type of contribution to
make. There is Britain's Howard
Robertson, designer of some OF
: the United Kingdoms most impor-
tant buildings and the British pa
Wilton at the New York worlds
= fair. Robertson thinks in terms OF
quiet, calm, cloisters and creating
, d place where work can be done
in peace.