DOI Heft:
The international Studio (September, 1907)
DOI Artikel:Saylor, Henry H.: An American village bank
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.28252#0457
An American Village Bank
N AMERICAN VILLAGE BANK
BY HENRY H. SAYLOR
It is seldom, indeed, that in the de-
sign of a small utilitarian building an
American architect is allowed to break away from
the traditional—the commonplace, I might almost
say—and give free rein to his fancy. Perhaps, in
the interest of harmony in sky lines, it is as well
that this is so, and yet when one does find such a
charming result of an unfettered imagination as
Mr. Embury has given us in the little building for
the Palisades Trust Company at Englewood, N. J.,
it is impossible to repress the wish for more of it.
As one looks at the architect’s sketch elevation
one can readily imagine the average bank officials’
building commit-
tee throwing up its
hands in horror at
the mere thought
of investing money
in a design so
utterly at variance
with all their pre-
conceived ideas of
how' a village bank
should appear.
Fortunately, how-
ever, in this case,
the committee was
carried away by
the very unusual-
ness of the archi-
tect’s suggestion.
They realized at
once that such a
building could not
fail to evoke com-
ment. Were that
comment favor-
able or unfavor-
able, it would be
plentifully made.
Every passer-by
could not help
noticing the build-
ing. Whether in
his opinion the
bank was a suc-
cess or a failure,
it would be talked
of, and that meant
business for the palisades trust and guaranty company
owners. So it was entrance
not with fear and trepidation that the design
was executed, practically as originally drawn, but
rather with a purpose as well as an appreciation.
Englewood itself is one of the most charming of
the New York suburbs. A village rich in trees it is—-
great arching elms and oaks, most of them—re-
quiring that the buildings they shelter shall be low
in contrast. The bank has a conspicuous location
directly across the village green from the railroad
station, so that its position, as well as its form,
brings it constantly to the attention of practically
everybody in the village.
A sharp contrast of color in the materials accents
the bank’s distinction in form. The base and piers
are built of a cream-white local sandstone, laid in
natural cement mortar. Chestnut is used for the
AYMAR EMBURY, 2D
ARCHITECT
CIII
N AMERICAN VILLAGE BANK
BY HENRY H. SAYLOR
It is seldom, indeed, that in the de-
sign of a small utilitarian building an
American architect is allowed to break away from
the traditional—the commonplace, I might almost
say—and give free rein to his fancy. Perhaps, in
the interest of harmony in sky lines, it is as well
that this is so, and yet when one does find such a
charming result of an unfettered imagination as
Mr. Embury has given us in the little building for
the Palisades Trust Company at Englewood, N. J.,
it is impossible to repress the wish for more of it.
As one looks at the architect’s sketch elevation
one can readily imagine the average bank officials’
building commit-
tee throwing up its
hands in horror at
the mere thought
of investing money
in a design so
utterly at variance
with all their pre-
conceived ideas of
how' a village bank
should appear.
Fortunately, how-
ever, in this case,
the committee was
carried away by
the very unusual-
ness of the archi-
tect’s suggestion.
They realized at
once that such a
building could not
fail to evoke com-
ment. Were that
comment favor-
able or unfavor-
able, it would be
plentifully made.
Every passer-by
could not help
noticing the build-
ing. Whether in
his opinion the
bank was a suc-
cess or a failure,
it would be talked
of, and that meant
business for the palisades trust and guaranty company
owners. So it was entrance
not with fear and trepidation that the design
was executed, practically as originally drawn, but
rather with a purpose as well as an appreciation.
Englewood itself is one of the most charming of
the New York suburbs. A village rich in trees it is—-
great arching elms and oaks, most of them—re-
quiring that the buildings they shelter shall be low
in contrast. The bank has a conspicuous location
directly across the village green from the railroad
station, so that its position, as well as its form,
brings it constantly to the attention of practically
everybody in the village.
A sharp contrast of color in the materials accents
the bank’s distinction in form. The base and piers
are built of a cream-white local sandstone, laid in
natural cement mortar. Chestnut is used for the
AYMAR EMBURY, 2D
ARCHITECT
CIII