Evening star., 1950-05-12
Architects Call
For'Temporary'
Buildings End
Institute Also Asks
Broader Power for
Park Commission
By Robert ]. Lewis

actions marking the 150th ami
versary of establishment of the
Capital here.
In adopting resolution to that
effect. the convention of the
American Institute of Architects
declared that continued existence
of temporary buildings in the
downtown area now mars the
Washington City plan. The reso-
luton was proposed by the insti-
tute's New York chapter.
The annual sessions, which
opened Wednesday and will END
tomorrow, are being held in the
Mayflower Hotel
In another resolution. the con-
vention went on record in favor
of pending legislation to reorgan-
lie the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission and broaden
its power, as recommended by the
Budget Bureau and other agencies
Bill Passed by Senate.
A bill to provide for this change
has been passed by the Senate
and is pending before the House
District Committee. The resolu-
ton was proposed by the Wash
ington Metropolitan Chapter of
the institute.
The convention also favored i'm
mediate passage of legislation tc
insure preservation of the Old
Stone House. at 3051 M street
NV, lin the public interest.
This also was a proposal made by
the Washington Chapter.
Elected today as regional direc.
tor for the Middle Atlantic Dis
trict of the ALA was c. E. Silling
Charleston, w. Va, over Alfred v
Dupont, Wilmington, Del.
President Reelected.
Ralph Walker, of New York
was reelected president of the in.
stitute without contest. Also re.
elected without opposition werl
Glenn Stanton. Portland, Greg.
first vice president; Kenneth E
WiSchmeyer, st. Louis, second vict
president; and Clair w. Ditchy
Detroit, secretary.
Charles F. Cellarius, Cincinatti
was reelected treasurer. ovel
Maurice j. Sullivan. Houston, Tex
Yesterday, the institute hearc
Sir Patrick Abercrombie, famous
British. architect, and Paul Win
dels of New York, one1 of the
country's best-known figures In
the Held Of city planning, sup
port architectural and planning
changes for washington.
Both went on record in sup
port of points made in a con-
troversial report of the Urbar
Planning Committee of the Wash.
tngton Metropolitan Chapter o1
the institute.
Sir Patrick commented directly
on the report, while Mr.. Windels
advocated certain similar objec.
tives without directly referring
to it.
Receives Award Tonight.
Sir Patrick tonight will receive
the A. I. A. gold medal, highest
award bestowed by the nationa,
organization of architects. The
ceremony will take place at 7::3C
o'clock in the Mayf1ower Hotel.
He said, at a press conference
yesterday that contemporary ar.
chitecture deserves to be consid-
cred in the design of future Gov
eminent buildings here.
you don't need any more
Corinthian columns in Washing.
ton," he said.
The British architect, who re-
Gently was elected president of th'
international Union of Architect
by delegates from 80 nations ant
who is responsible for the plar
to rebuild Greater London, com
mented that he thought it wa
"only inevitable that you shoult
have had some monumentalit,
in your buildings"
The slight framed Britisher, il
other comments about Washing
ton. said he thought the White
House, as an example of Ameri
can architecture, was "a perfect.
splendid, delightful building" Blu
he agreed temporary buildings il
the Mall area are dreadful eye
sores"
His greatest praise and his mos
whitening scorn were reserved
however. for the Washington
Monument and the Library o
Congress.
He didn't object to the architec
ture of the Library of Congress 81
much as to it's location.
ct is totally wrongly placed" h
said. TT jostles the Capitol to on
side and was frightful blunder-
er-bloomer. I didn't like it 80 o
40 years ago. and I don't like
today
OF the Washington Monument
which he called your obelisk"-
Sir Patrick said ecstatically tina
nothing in England could com
pare with it, and added:
1T is the most dignified monu
ment one can imagine. There i
only one monument in the worls
that can compare with it-th
great Pyramid in Egypt"
Mr.. Windels, speaking at a con
vention session yesterday, advo
Gated legislation to establish ney
regional planning agencies to NEE
the needs of expanding cities, sucl
as Washington.