Evening star., 1963-05-26
Architectural Trend

IL would De naro TO I'M
agine any Washingtonian,
fond Of his city. not being
delighted with the set Of
photos Of the Library of
Congress, that appeared in
last Sundays Star.
The accompanying text
perhaps provided pleasure a
little less widely. But to
those put off by its bantering
tone some comfort might be
found in the fact that despite
the exception taken to the
point Of view that governed
the planning and decorating
Of the Library no real fault
Is noted in the design itself.
In that sense the age that
saw the building erected was
more sophisticated than our
own; the Lbrary's style was
certainly remarked on, and
condemned or approved, but
the substance of the critical
estimates made was given to
the shortcomings or merits
Of the scheme itself.
No harm is done by the
omission Of any such serious
consideration in Mr.. Tirana's
friendly. If patronizing, arti-
Gle. What is disquieting is
that it is characteristic Of
the outlook that prevails
among those In whose hands
the future, and not so dis
tant future, development Of
the Capital rests. The
spokeSmen for the admins
tration, and their architects,
have had a good deal to say
about the style Of Washing
tons existing buildings:
nothing, save in a most gen.
eral way, Of their artistic
flaws or virtues.
What would be encourage
ing would be a true formal
analysis Of the major struc-
lures by whose sides the new
ones will go up, on the part
Of the latter's designers. Un-
fortunately. the best that
can be made out of the views
put forward is that the new
architects promise to select a
style currently in favor, ex-
actly, that is. what their
predecessors did, in the Lii
brary. the Federal Triangle,
even the Capitol, and q deci-
sion making very little de-
mand on talent.
That their work. in the
quality Of its design, the
paramount factor, and one
tranScending style. will be
superior to that Of the earlier
artists. or even its equal,
there is not the least reason
to expect.
Pierce Rice.
The Star and its reporter,
T, w. Tirana, are TO be COM
mended for the May 10 arti-
Gle calling attention to the
ambitious building plans Of
the Librarian Of Congress.
Ten acres Of floor space
will be provided in a Madison
memorial on the cleared site
south OF the main Library
building. The proposed Mad
ison memorial will include
underground vaults for pres
idential papers. These vaults
will cost $24 million, and the
memorial will cost SIS million
more. making a total Of 500
million. The taxpayers will
be called on TO foot the bill
for this project. Here is where
the economy-minded Con-
gress can make a real saw
ing; by cutting this project
out altogether.
An additional 81 acres Of
floor space will be provided In
q $40 million third Library
building east OF the present
Annex. The total cost Of this
plan. which is favored by the
Librarian OF Congress, was
not given by Mr.. Tirana, but
II has been estimated at close
10 Sli4 million. This figure Is
compiled as follows:
Seventy million dollars for
the third Library building: IS
million for the purchase Of
the new site east Of the pres
ent Annex (this will displace
more residents and take more
church property and $50
million for the Madison me-
mortal.
A competitive plan. spon-
sored by Representative Will
liam B. Widnall. Republican
OF New Jersey. is favored by
the people living on Capitol
Hill. The Capitol Hill South
east Citizens Association has
Endorsed the widnall plan
because II will not dispossess
residents: II will not take
private property: II will not
destroy a church like the ia
moiin 81 Mark'a pniasnnai ak