Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/360

 298 Sloan's Architectural Review and Builders' Journal. [Nov., The internal arrangement of this Bank Building is such, as to meet the requirements of the several parties occu- pying it. The Basement, with its Cellar and Fire and Burglar-proof Vaults, is occu- pied by the Stuyvesant Safe- Deposit Company. The First, or Principal Story, is occu- pied by the Proprietors of the building, the Metropolitan Savings Bank. The Second Story contains the Offices of the United States District Internal Revenue Department. The Third Story is divided into Offices ; and The Fourth Stoiy is used for Masonic Lodge Rooms. The Building, throughout, is perfectly fire-proof; no combustible material hav- ing been used, either externally or inter- nally, where masonry or iron could be emplo3 r ed. The Metropolitan is but one of the fine buildings, which have been erected, or been remodeled, in New York, b} r the flourishing Savings Institutions of that city, during the last two or three years ; and, as there is a rivalry in this, as in any other of the operations, which have an abiding interest with the public at large, it is fair to presume, that archi- tects will have their time pretty well engaged, ere long, in the matter of " Savings Bank" designs. A word in season, therefore, cannot come amiss. The architect, who sits down to design a Savings Bank, must keep religiously in view the very nature of the subject he is about to work upon. It is to be composed on principles of economy, without illiberality, elegance, without display, and attractiveness, without un- due ornament. Simple, yet fine in its very simplicity, it must be an edifice, that, whilst it gives entire satisfaction to every observer, does not call up an unpleasant question, in the mind of its patrons, concerning the use of the capi- tal so outlaid. In the selection of the Architectural Style, that one which affords the most opportunity for the production of clfects of light and shade, with the least attend- ance of ornament, is most needed. Pro- portion is the most desirable feature in such a design, or, in fact, in any design, whatsoever, but. especially, in that of Savings Banks, for the want of it can- not be compensated by ornament. Or- nament, unless very judiciously used, is out of place, on such a composition. As to the Order, we should invariably use the Tuscan, as being the simplest ; and, at the same time, most consonant to the peculiar purpose. The Roman Doric might be used in the Basement. Palladio, Scamozzi, and Vignola give us some fine illustrations of the mode of treatment of the Tuscan Order ; and even Perranlt, allowing for eccentricity of detail, shows the adaptability of this Order. Sir William Chambers, in his incomparable treatise on Civil Archi- tecture, speaks of it in a manner that leaves no doubt, as to its fitness for the plain, the substantial, and the beautiful. It is not to be thought, that we would rigidly forbid ornamentation, on Savings Banks ; or that we would interdict the use of richer Orders. On the contrary, we consider such relief desirable, at times ; and, as in the case before us, the New York Metropolitan Savings Bank, where the Corinthian is intro- duced, we certainly deem it judicious, and especially so, as the architect has exercised a keen caution, in not over- stepping the very line we have here drawn attention to. As regards ornaments on Sayings Banks, their presence is as absurd as it would be, for a man, striving to acquire wealth, to wear useless jewehy, merely for ostentation's sake. There are, un- happily, some few instances of thought- lessness, in this matter, to be now seen in New York Savings Banks, recently remodeled, which, while they do credit to the sculptor, do no credit to the judgment of the designer ; and cannot be looked on with favor, by the thrifty