DOI Heft:
No. 79 (October, 1899)
DOI Artikel:Townsend, Horace: Some alternations and additions to a house in Glasgow
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19783#0052
A House in
•of the so-called historical styles, and ask an archi-
tect of the new school, who holds it as a prime
article of his artistic faith that style, save as repre-
senting the latter end of the nineteenth century, is a
thing to be abhorred, to alter the exterior or to treat
the interior after a decorative fashion. Is he to
follow what may seem to the average man, and prob-
ably to his client, the obvious course, and so design
a new work as to stylistically harmonise with the
old, oris he to follow his own conviction and pay no
regard to the stylistic notes set by his predecessors?
It seems to me that the latter course can be
defended on all grounds. The architect of to-day
is but adding a page to the history of the house he
is treating, and it is for him to say what he has to
say in his own manner. Messrs. Salmon and Sons,
in dealing with the alterations to a house in
Glasgow, which I am now considering, are very
evidently of this opinion. The house, which is a
corner one in Park Circus, is apparently the conven-
tional Neo-classic town house of a generation or
THE FRONT DOOR
36
Glasgow
ELECTRIC HALL LAMP
less ago, and their task has been chiefly to re-
decorate it and to fit it throughout with electric
light. The only exterior work that they have done
has been to reconstruct the front door and porch.
This latter task, it will be seen by the accompany-
ing illustration, they have accomplished without
reference to the existing work. This simple oaken
door, its plainness just relieved by the carvings in
low-relief, with the effective clasp hinges and other
metal work, has nothing at all in common with the
spiritless rusticated stonework in which it is set,
and yet I do not think it is likely to jar upon one
with any sense of incongruity. It is very frankly a
new door set in an old house, but, unlike the new
wine in an old bottle, no artistically disastrous
consequences will follow. The leaded glass-
work in the side lights is pleasant in design, and
effective in colour. But it is, of course, the in-
terior of the house that is more deserving of notice.
•of the so-called historical styles, and ask an archi-
tect of the new school, who holds it as a prime
article of his artistic faith that style, save as repre-
senting the latter end of the nineteenth century, is a
thing to be abhorred, to alter the exterior or to treat
the interior after a decorative fashion. Is he to
follow what may seem to the average man, and prob-
ably to his client, the obvious course, and so design
a new work as to stylistically harmonise with the
old, oris he to follow his own conviction and pay no
regard to the stylistic notes set by his predecessors?
It seems to me that the latter course can be
defended on all grounds. The architect of to-day
is but adding a page to the history of the house he
is treating, and it is for him to say what he has to
say in his own manner. Messrs. Salmon and Sons,
in dealing with the alterations to a house in
Glasgow, which I am now considering, are very
evidently of this opinion. The house, which is a
corner one in Park Circus, is apparently the conven-
tional Neo-classic town house of a generation or
THE FRONT DOOR
36
Glasgow
ELECTRIC HALL LAMP
less ago, and their task has been chiefly to re-
decorate it and to fit it throughout with electric
light. The only exterior work that they have done
has been to reconstruct the front door and porch.
This latter task, it will be seen by the accompany-
ing illustration, they have accomplished without
reference to the existing work. This simple oaken
door, its plainness just relieved by the carvings in
low-relief, with the effective clasp hinges and other
metal work, has nothing at all in common with the
spiritless rusticated stonework in which it is set,
and yet I do not think it is likely to jar upon one
with any sense of incongruity. It is very frankly a
new door set in an old house, but, unlike the new
wine in an old bottle, no artistically disastrous
consequences will follow. The leaded glass-
work in the side lights is pleasant in design, and
effective in colour. But it is, of course, the in-
terior of the house that is more deserving of notice.