DOI Heft:
No. 129 (November, 1907)
DOI Artikel:Scott, Mackay H. Baillie: On the characteristics of Mr. C. F. A. Voysey's architecture
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.28253#0040
Mr. C. F. A. Voysey's Architecture
"GARDEN CORNER,” CHELSEA: THE LIBRARY
sacrificing labour which is plainly expended—not
for money, or even for fame, but merely for the
love of the work for its own sake. Little is known
by the general public probably of the methods by
which an architect achieves his ends. To many it
is a simple matter involving little personal care.
The scheme originally hatched in the hotel smoking-
room, or the club, is further developed by the
office staff, while much is left to the builder. From
such methods Mr. Voysey’s work is far removed
indeed ! To look through a set of drawings for a
house prepared by him, is to recognise, in every
sheet, how all possibilities of error are eliminated
by the most careful and conscientious forethought.
The scheme is worked out on paper so fully and
completely that it explains itself.
Only a real devotion to the work will inspire
such indefatigable labour : and this is largely the
cause of Mr. Voysey’s success.
M. H. Baillie Scott.
By the courtesy of Mr. E. J. Horniman, M.P.,
we are enabled to give in the accompanying series
of illustrations some examples of Mr. Voysey’s
DESIGNED BY C. F. A. VOYSEY
designs as quite recently carried out at his town
residence, “ Garden Corner,” Chelsea Embank-
ment. The house is semi-detached, and was
built about twenty years ago. It was arranged
with one principal staircase to the first floor only,
the subsidiary stairs from top to bottom of the
seven floors being in a narrow dark slit by the side
of the grand stairs. The walls were lined with
oak veneer, stained a nut brown; the rooms
were so high that no reflected light was secured
from the ceilings, and the windows had two scales,
the upper halves being in panes of smallish size, the
lower glazed with huge sheets of plate-glass. Dark-
ness and gloom prevailed when Mr. Horniman
came into possession of the house.
In the process of transformation, the grand stair-
case was taken out, the veneer torn off the walls,
and most of the doors and windows were removed.
The basement has been rearranged and lined
throughout with van Straaten’s white Dutch tiles,
and light captured wherever possible. An electric
lift by Messrs. Waygood and Co. serves all floors,
and is fitted with a specially designed plain oak
cage to match the new joinery, which on the ground
24
"GARDEN CORNER,” CHELSEA: THE LIBRARY
sacrificing labour which is plainly expended—not
for money, or even for fame, but merely for the
love of the work for its own sake. Little is known
by the general public probably of the methods by
which an architect achieves his ends. To many it
is a simple matter involving little personal care.
The scheme originally hatched in the hotel smoking-
room, or the club, is further developed by the
office staff, while much is left to the builder. From
such methods Mr. Voysey’s work is far removed
indeed ! To look through a set of drawings for a
house prepared by him, is to recognise, in every
sheet, how all possibilities of error are eliminated
by the most careful and conscientious forethought.
The scheme is worked out on paper so fully and
completely that it explains itself.
Only a real devotion to the work will inspire
such indefatigable labour : and this is largely the
cause of Mr. Voysey’s success.
M. H. Baillie Scott.
By the courtesy of Mr. E. J. Horniman, M.P.,
we are enabled to give in the accompanying series
of illustrations some examples of Mr. Voysey’s
DESIGNED BY C. F. A. VOYSEY
designs as quite recently carried out at his town
residence, “ Garden Corner,” Chelsea Embank-
ment. The house is semi-detached, and was
built about twenty years ago. It was arranged
with one principal staircase to the first floor only,
the subsidiary stairs from top to bottom of the
seven floors being in a narrow dark slit by the side
of the grand stairs. The walls were lined with
oak veneer, stained a nut brown; the rooms
were so high that no reflected light was secured
from the ceilings, and the windows had two scales,
the upper halves being in panes of smallish size, the
lower glazed with huge sheets of plate-glass. Dark-
ness and gloom prevailed when Mr. Horniman
came into possession of the house.
In the process of transformation, the grand stair-
case was taken out, the veneer torn off the walls,
and most of the doors and windows were removed.
The basement has been rearranged and lined
throughout with van Straaten’s white Dutch tiles,
and light captured wherever possible. An electric
lift by Messrs. Waygood and Co. serves all floors,
and is fitted with a specially designed plain oak
cage to match the new joinery, which on the ground
24