Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/544

 522 THE BUILDING NEWS. JUNE 28, 1872. HOUSE PLANNING COMPETITION. HIS week we give the design for villa to cost £2,000, sent in by Mr. W. Flockhart, of 160, Hope-street, Glasgow, under the motto “ Let us Labour with Love.” Mr. Flockhart says :— This design, so far as cubical contents are con- cerned, is in accordance with the conditions issued at the commencement of this competition; as for the architectural treatment, it could easily be modified at pleasure. The plans will show what is intended with regard to the aspect, comfort and convenience of the principal rooms. The angle formed by dining and drawing-room might be occupied by a conserva- tory which, on any extra occasion, would serve the purpose of an agreeable and dignified route between those rooms. Ample sleeping accommodation is provided in the upper floor and attics. An alternative arrangement of the latter is given, perhaps thereby getting a better plan without in any way interfering with the other arrangements. The materials for the external walls would be any of the local stones, irregular-coursed, squarely-dressed ruble work with tooled dressings. The wood-work to be of oak, teak, or any other durable wood, stained. Roofs to be covered with green slates and red tile ridges. The accompanying perspective is taken from the south- east. — S. JOHN’S CHURCH, HULL. eps church was originally built in 1790, in the usual conventicle style, the building consisting simply of a large chamber 83ft. by 60ft., spanned by a flat ceiling, and almost entirely devoid of architectural embellishment; this chamber being crowded with galleries, those at each side containing six pews in depth, and that at the west end no fewer than thirteen pews in depth, and being further crowded with heavy staircases, the pews on the ground floor being high and narrow, arranged with- out a centre aisle, and those at each side corre- sponding with the width of the galleries facing the central pews. About seven years ago a chancel was erected from designs by Mr. Cuthbert Brodrick, the effecting of which, with its alabaster walls and open stalls for the choir, was the inauguration of a good work, which it is the intention of the much respected incumbent, the Rey. H. W. Kemp, and his parishioners, to complete—namely, the entire remodel- ling of the church on proper ecclesiastical principles and with architectural adornments worthy of the purpose, and which will, in fact, render it internally one of the handsomest churches in the Italian style in the country, and a fit companion to Holy Trinity Church at Hull, one of the finest in the Gothic style. The design for the remodelling has been entrusted to and prepared by Mr. C. G. Wray, F.R.I.B.A., of 46, Cannon-street, London, the architect of the new pile of buildings for the Hull Dock Company in Junction-street, and is shown in one of our lithographic illustrations. The alterations will be effected without in any manner changing the present construction of the fabric or even taking off the roof, as in dividing the body of the church into nave and aisles, which will be effected by a fine arcade springing from a colonnade of scagliola columns in imitation of Deyon- shire marble, and with an enriched entablature over. The architect has ingeniously contrived to make the tie-beams and queen-posts of the present roof the basis of a fine composition, by appropriately casing them so as to combine with a coved and horizontal ceiling, divided by a small entablature corresponding with the queen-posts clothed as pilasters, by which arrangement some ‘ft. or Lft. are added to the height of the nave, and additional light is obtained from skylights behind the sun enrichments in the panels of the coves, these panels, as also those of the horizontal ceiling, being further enriched with circlets of stars in relief. The ceilings of the aisles will remain of the present level, but will be panelled and enriched, and have cornices under to correspond with those of nave. A new tower and a new chancel arch will be inserted, and it is also proposed to lessen the disproportionate width of the present chancel by a colonnade at each side, from which there will spring a new semicircular ceiling, to harmonise with the decorative character of that of the nave. Thespandrels of the nave arcade will be enriched with medallions of the Apostles, and the other spandrels, as also the key-stones, volutes of the capitals, &c., with angels and symbolical enrich- ments. The present windows of the aisles will be fitted with proper dressings, and it is intended to complete throughout the series of magnificent stained glass windows which the church already possesses. The organ, which at present is incon- veniently placed at the south-east end of the chancel, will be located in a new proper organ-chamber at the east end of the north aisle, and a handsome pulpit of marble will be provided. With regard to the reseating, from the accommo- dation requisite galleries have been found still neces- sary, but they will be greatly narrowed and kept subordinate, and their construction made distinct and decorative ; and the heavy staircases will be removed from inside the church and placed in new buildings outside. The seats in the nave and aisles will be arranged all facing eastward, with centre and side passages, and will be open, with handsome bench ends of Italian design. The total number of sittings provided will be 1,300, or nearly the same asin the present church, It is interesting to observe from this design that it is possible to conyert buildings of the conventicle class, which are unhappily but too numerous in this country, into proper and handsome ecclesiastical structures, without interfering with their present construction, and, therefore, at a comparatively small expense, and we trust this good example will be largely followed. ———_—_.——_ THE SCHOOL BOARDS, Lonpon.—At the meeting of the London School Board on Wednesday Mr. A. Langdale called to mind what occurred at the previous meeting respecting the desirability of entrusting to Mr. Robson, the architect to the Board, the preparation of plans of the new premises on the Thames Embankment, and moved—* That, while fully recognising the abilities and great attention to his duties of Mr. Robson, it is wise and expedient that the designing of the offices of the Board be opened to competition ; and that the works committee be instructed to take the necessary steps to open this work to competition amongst four architects, such architects to be selected by the committee, it being open to them to request Mr. Robson to send in designs on the same terms as other architects.” Mr. Reed, in reply to a question, stated that no estimate had as yet been made of the cost of the new building. The Works Committee had, after very careful consideration, and with a good knowledge of Mr. Robson’s capabilities, advised that that gentleman should be asked to pre- pare plans of the works, and he (Mr. Reed) did not think that the Board could do better than confirm that recommendation. After a discussion the Board divided: For Mr. Langdale’s proposition,16 ; against it, 15. The motion was, therefore, carried. Rocnester.—At a meeting of the Rochester School Board, on Thursday week, the Chairman pro- posed to proceed to the opening of the plans for the new schools to be built by the Board. Mr. Hayward, before the plans were opened, said he understood that several members of the Board had been written to by one of the competing architects, who signed himself “Tnvicta,” and he trusted the Board would mark its sense of the impropriety of his condact by refusing to look at his plans. He had also been informed that another architect had addressed letters to some of the members of the Board, but as he (Mr. Hayward) had not been favoured with one he could not say under what name the writer went. He would pro- pose that neither of the plans respecting which com- munications had been sent should be opened. The motion, however, was not seconded. The various competing plans, 27 in number, were then opened and inspected, after which the Board adjourned. ScarBoroucu.—At a meeting of the Scarborough School Board, on Friday last, the Clerk read the minutes of a committee of the whole Board held on the 17th, which recommended that a competition amongst architects be invited for the plans of the new school; that the school be named the “ Central Board School;” and that Mr. John Petch, architect, be instructed to prepare the necessary plan and levels of the site to be supplied to competing archi- tects. A discussion ensued, in which considerable feeling was evinced by the section of the Board which has opposed the selection of the Trafalgar-street site, and the opinion was expressed by them that the Education Department had acted discourteously towards the Board in not sending its architect down to inspect the several proposed sites. On the motion being put to the meeting it was found that there was five for and one against. The Clerk was then instructed to issue an advertisement inviting designs from architects for the proposed central school, ac- cording to the conditions and particulars now con- sidered and approved. Designs to be sent in on or before the Ist August next. WInDLesHaAM.—The Education Department has approved the plans, &c., for the proposed additional schools at Windlesham and at Bagshot, and the works will be commenced forthwith under the superin- tendence of the architect, Mr. E. Ingress Bell. ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND. GENERAL meeting of this Association was held at 212, Great Brunswick-street, Dublin, on the 20th inst., James H. Owen, Esq., M.A., President of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, in the chair. The provisional secretaries reported that several gentlemen had sent in their names since the last meeting. The following letter was read from Thomas Drew, R.H.A., Secretary R.LA. :— ; “60, Upper Sackville-street, Dublin, June 19. “My dear Sir,—I regret very much that absence from home will prevent my being present at your meeting to elect the officers of your Association to~ morrow evening. I will take it as a favour if I am admitted a member of the Association, and if I am permitted to be a hearty, zealous, and pract'cal one. It has been with the greatest satisfaction and interest I have watched the inauguration of this movement ; it is an evidence that all life and energy for im- provement is not extinct amongst us which I have long hoped for. Although not enabled to be an active member of the Architectural Association of London, I have been sufficiently intimate with some of the younger and active spirits in that body to have brought home to me at what an immeasurable disadvantage the ‘coming men” of the profession stand here as compared with their London brethren, who have extraordinary advantages now. The present situation is without a parallel in the past. Few persons here are aware what kind of competi- tors the high standard of education the London school affords is preparing for us, and it will take extraordinary exertion on our part if, with all our disadvantages, we are decently to hold our own and send even an occasional Irish genius to the front. I think the movement comes from the right direction, from the*spontaneous desire of the younger men of our profession. Inaugurated by the Institute (Irish), and nursed by it, such a movement could not have one-half the healthy vitality. The Insti- tute has proper and very distinct functions of its own, and deserves the support of the younger members of the profession; had it no existence the ‘coming men,’ when they did come to the front, would find that they had embarked in a profession or calling very unsatisfactory to make a living by, and neither respectable nor respected.—I am, dear sir, yours very sincerely, “Tomas Drew, R.H.A. “To John L. Robinson, Esq.” A letter was also read from C. G. Doran, Esq., Queenstown, County Cork, in which the following passage occurs :— The Association which you are now engaged in establishing will, I hope, lead the way to many good results. Among them may safely be reckoned one that has been overlooked by the architectural profession for the last three centu— ries. It is the encouragement and recognition of those classes to whom the architect's designs are entrusted for execution. In the Middle Ages, the cloister of the monk, the study of the architect, and the scaffold of the mason, were frequently occupied by the same person, and the models of architectural skill remaining to-day bear testimony of the excel- lent working of the combination. But in latter years, when design and execution were transferred to different hands, the harmony of parts was not quite so successful. Why it was not can be easily explained. The designer neglected to encourage the craftsman, at whose hands the special features of his picture awaited development, and the craftsman in return ‘machined’ the design withowt infusing into it either spirit or feeling, the result being the absence: of those happy effects which only mutual under- standing could blend together.” Letters were also read from R. B. Phillips, Esq., and R. S. Swan, Esq., apologising for not being present. A ballot was then taken for the office of President. J. J- O'Callaghan, Esq., F.R.I.A.L, was elected, and the following gentlemen to form the committee: Messrs. W. P. Ryan, W. G. Doolin, Junior, D. J. Freeman, Thomas H. Longfield, E. S. O'Callaghan, A. W. Robinson, R. S. Swan, John L. Robinson, and William Butler. The committee then elected Messrs. Thomas H. Longfield and John L. Robin- son honorary secretaries ; Dan. J. Freeman, trea- surer; and Messrs. Mitchell & Brien, auditors. The general meeting then confirmed their election. The First Session will commence early in October, when the President will deliver his inaugural address. In- tending members are requested to send in their names as soon as possible. Forty names have been already received. It is to be hoped that members of the profession generally, and especially those resi- dent in Dublin, will join the Association in its endeavours to promote the architectural taste of the metropolis and country at large.