Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-14
War; Navy Building
ATTRACTS Architect r
Winner Of Medal
Wouldn't Tear
Structure Down

Ralph T. Walker of New York,
the architects architect who has
left his mark on the Washington
scene, is one of those who doesn't
mind the old State. War and
Navy Building, but regards it as
"a pleasant monstrosity." He
feels it had a certain dignity
and would not tear it down, as
has been suggested.
Mr.. Walker is to receive the
American Institute of Architects
special centennial medal which
means. according to Leon Chate-
lain, jr.. ALA president, that the
architects believe Mr.. Walker
has made "the most significant
contribution of any living Amer
lean architect to humanity and
the planning of human environ
ment."
Mr.. Walker is the designer Of
the AFL-CIO Building, which is
impressively simple without being
plain. He said George Meany,
AFL-CIO president. was a grand
client" who had an understand
ing Of a citizens responsibility in
building in the Capital. Mr..
Walker also designed the chan
Gerry Of the Belgian Embassy. His
own philosophy of design is sum-
med up in the phrases: with
out dogma. without monotony."
Sees Implanted Dispersion
His firm, Voorhees,, Walker,
Smith 81 Smith. is designing the
new Atomic Energy Commission
building and the National Bu-
reau Of Standards building, both
in Maryland. He feels that these
buildings may be too far from
the city and believes a better
plan would place them closer in,
with residential areas beyond.
There is an awful lot of I'M
planned dispersion which won't
do us much good if an atomic
bombing occurs" he remarked.
He was asked about the pres
ent practice of designing office
buildings with sheer walls Of
stone and glass. He replied this
is becoming "a sort Of architec-
tural cliche-everybody had to
stick a building up on stills" with
the sheer walls above. The
United Nations was built that
way.
81 don't think steel and glass
belong In Washington" he said.
washington is a peculiar place.
It is the Capital and shouts
have special considerations when
1t comes to building-not Corin-
THAN columns nor bleak build
Iings. There must be charm.
And there must be a way Of
making modern techniques
achieve monumentality."
Sees Some Bleakness
He referred to the present
State Department Building a.
bleak" and he found the Gen.
eral Accounting ONCE Building
"a little bleak" The old red
brick Pension Building across
from the GAO he found not such
"a pleasant monStrosity" as t.ss
old State, War and Navy Build-
ing. But. he said, we should be
careful about tearing down old
buildings. that we are too can
nibalistic."
He is dead against" rebuild
ing the East Front of the Capt.
tol. which he said is probably
one Of the most magnificent
public buildings in the world .
The rebuilding, he pointed out.
would destroy the magnificent
courtyard in front Of it.
He saw the west side Of La
fayette square as an appropriate
place for a White House office
building.
AS for Washington generally,
it should be a monumental city
which involves geometry, he said.
Commercial : building heights
should be kept low. say 80 feet,
he believed. but builders should
come up to that height. Then
there would not be a ragged sky
line.