Street Architecture Of London.*

they remained as now , with little or nothing to boast of architecturally , as a whole ; and let it be specially borne in mind that you , who are not building houses yourselves in these localities , may yet be able to influence others who do so . Every building will become an item in the final result , and I know how often everything is overlooked except mere utility—nay , more , that the architect is often blamed if ho is supposed to give

much attention to external appearance . Writers in the public papers commonly speak of the architect as being the ruling power in all cases . Indeed , he is no such thing-, and in the majority of instances he is obligee ^ , to give up many points ivhich he would far rather have maintained ; and in many more cases he knows beforehand that to attempt what his client would call wild vagaries , or pretentious display , or needless outlaywould lose him his businessand soon

, , compe him to retire , without even what the advertisements call "a moderate competency . " Where there is an intentional and studied effect visibly apparent , and the result of which is bad , of course the architect should he blamed ; hut this is not the reason of failure in the great majority of instances which excite adverse criticism . If I see a design , in one part of which the architect has set his thoughtwhich he has filled with the

im-, press of his own mind , where he has ventured to indulge in some piece of good and effective design , and as dared to introduce some judicious and well-studied ornament—almost by stealth , as it were—I know 1 must absolve him from blame if the rest of the design be bald and uninteresting , flat and commonplace , or even in some aspect of proportion or arrangement offensive .

In street architecture the surface decoration has , for the most part , a secondary ofiice to fulfil : tlie buildings are seen in a sharp perspective , and tho projections , reveals , and soffits contribute most to the effect , particularly hay windows or corbelled turrets , and an effective treatment of the roof , which latter , I think , should not have too much projection , but should cut well against the sky , ancl should obscure as little as possible of the upward view ; in street architecture especialldo the roofs lay

y p a most important part , both by the picturesque outline they may present , and by the more varied effects of light and shade which they contribute where tlie light may fall . I cannot well imagine any street ugly where there is a general harmony of main lines , and a well studied and picturesque treatment ofthe sky-line ; while I cannot imagine a plain row of houses lookingvery wellwhere there may be an elaborate care bestowed in the

, treatment of the flat surface , but which ends only with a plain level parapet , presenting one never varying effect against the sky , and throwing one dead shadow on the opposite side . In truth , the elements of good effect , if not of beauty , in street architecture are much simpler than most people imagine ; if the main outlines and general proportions are good , if the architect ' s practised hand and trained eye have thrown the parts together with to

a regard fitness and simplicity , the absence of ornament and costly decoration will hardl y he fait at all—not that the capability to impart this satisfying and happy result is the easy and early attainment of the architect ; on tlie contrary , it is ,

perhaps , one of the last things he learns , for it is an easiei matter to design an ornamental feature , good in itself , than to know well beforehand , on the paper , how to give the best effect to the masses of buildings in execution , where so many extraneous causes may conspire to make or mar the success ofthe composition . Grouping of the masses ancl telling outline against the sky are certainl y the main things to be observed . Tho building erected opposite Crosby Halland before alluded tois

, , very ornamental in its details , but if nearly all that ornament were dispensed with it would still look almost as well ; this may also be said of the new " Life" offices , in Bridge-street , Blackfriars , and of some of the new hotels which have recentl y been erected ; hut for admirable outline , balance of parts , and grand general effect , what can exceed St . Paul's , as seen from ludg-afce HiU ? Is it the sculptured pediments or other architectural enrichments which

attract the eye , and fix tho building on the mind ofthe beholder ? or is it tlie towering magnificence ofthe lofty dome , and the play of light and shade / the solidity and repose , the breadth at once and the lightness of effect of the whole composition ? I know of nothing to surpass the view obtained ofthe Cathedral from the point above named . As the root m Gothic architecture the dome and is the

, so cupola great element of picturesque treatment in Classic architecture ; ' " 1 S partly , perhaps , because roofs are more common and more useful than domes , and that lowness of pitch will harmonise wicn uassic architecture ancl not with Gothic , that the latter

has gained so much in public favour . That the want of a fitting accessory of this kind is felt and acknowledged is sufficiently proved by the fashion lately set in , of making high and steep sloped roof ' s with or without a flat top , and in this way Classic architecture redeems itself almost entirely from reproach in this respect . I may instance the Tuileries as a striking proof of this ; and among ourselves we have many instances—the most

recent , perhaps , is the Duke of Buceleuch ' s house , at Whitehallgardens , though whether the feature here is treated altogether judiciously may be a question for thc critics . The bright clear sky of Greece , Egypt , and Southern Italy may , perhaps , form the very best background for the beautiful temples , with their long straight cornices and flat pediments cutting clearly against it , and they maybe the most appropriate

forms to be relieved hy it ; hut in our northern climate the sky is hardly ever clear of clouds , ivhich iii-esent forms of every possible variety in every direction and inclination , and mostly of curved outlines ; it is not harmonious to rule against this background long level lines without break or intermission , but , on the contrary , the steep , straight , or swelling gable , plain or stepped , the curved dome or roof , and every other feature giving play of line against the sky , is harmonious , ancl in unison with

that background in connection with which they can alone be seen . Will any one deny that in a long continued facade of building —say the Rue de Rivoli—it is not most refreshing and agreeable to come to a break where there is a design of another character , successful in the particulars to which I havo alluded ? It is , however , not because the design may be what is called " Gothic " that it will prove deserving of favour above classic ; there are some new Gothic houses on both sides of Cheapside , hut they

both of them fail to give so pleasing an effect as a smaller ancl less pretentious building now just finished in Old Broad-street ; because , in the former cases , the old level line of parapet is adhered to , while in the latter a gabled roof finishes the design . A merely curved or sloped roof , so long as it can bo seen from below , will go far to supply what is wanted . The French are fully aware of this , and always let their roofs he seen ; and , among others , I may mention the Universal Marine Offices , in Cornhill , as an instance of the truth of this remark , giving the whole building a more pleasing form , and one which the eye

readily singles out , in spite of the ornamental and towering structure occupied by Messrs . Sari , in the neighbourhood . What I have said is , however , perhaps rather as hoping to influence the future , through those who may agree with me , than as speaking of the present . Our street architecture is , upon the whole , lamentably deficient in this attribute ; and when one really feels how wonderful the change would be if any of our fine main thoroughfares could be remodelled with

careful study as to the roofs , it is impossible to help dwelling on the point , and very earnestly entreating all who can do so to consider and to advocate the subject as opportunity arises , the difficulties interposed by the Metropolitan Building Act notwithstanding . There is , however , another point in connection with our street architecture not easily to be dealt with , but which it

would be most desirable to control if it could be done , which is , that it constantly happens that neiv buildings very much spoil one another , and very needlessly ; every man considering just exactly what he has before him , and utterly ignoring what will exist on each side of his design when executed . The result is most painful ; moulding and cornice are abruptly cut oftj every feature is utterly at discord in each ease with ' the others - no

, pains even is taken to render the / lesigu complete in itself , and the front looks as if it had been intended to be one of a row , which , by some change of intention , was never continued . To enumerate instances would be needless , every main thoroughfare exhibits them , ancl strangers must be struck with this state of things as a peculiarity of municipal management of a most extraordinary character .

I fear no ordinary means are sufficient to euro this state of things . In the present state of architectural feeling , while the battle of the styles is either breaking out in open fury , or smouldering out of sight and ready to break out , there is an habitual disregard of other than personal feeling , and rather a delight in showing contempt for all work of a different character brought into juxtaposition . It becomes , for example , an article of faith to show as much as possible how tho creed professed by the disci

ple of Gothic architecture differs from that of the Classic architect , who has been at work on the next plot of ground , and vice versa , though , perhaps , the injury sustained is at least equal to that inflicted . All this is wrong , and is , perhaps , at tho