DOI issue:
No. 112 (July, 1902)
DOI article:Some recent English designs for domestic architecture
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19876#0128
Recent Domestic Architecture
originality; for the human mind has often among laziest imitators might well be content, and, being
its vagaries the curious habit of undervaluing content, might well find pleasure in creating some-
its own ideas and of over-estimating its collections thing all their own in the shape of ornament,
of facts. This is why the architects who copy the Also, it seems reasonable to believe that anything
old styles are always self-confident and dogmatic, obviously discordant with the needs of the present
Anyone who differs from them is a "charlatan" ; day might be shunned quite as easily by architects
they alone are the salt of the earth in matters of in their designs, as the use of obsolete words is
architecture. A slight variation of an, old motif, avoided by them in their speech. There is not
a motif with which they have long been familiar one among them who, in writing out a specifica-
—this, to them, is a sure and a great sign of tion, would hark back to the English of Sir John
originality; and so they spend their time at Maundeville. Yet this would be neither more
ease in a mental atmosphere of paraphrases, and affected nor more ridiculous than building a
are proud and happy. modern house with a mediaeval tower or keep.
A visit to the Architectural Room in this year's Mr. Arnold Mitchell, in his design for Maesycru-
exhibition at the Academy will not fail to con- giau Manor, illustrated on p. 120, tries his hand at
firm the truth of the foregoing remarks. We a rather militant-looking tower without battlements,
admit, indeed, that the drawings as a whole are and although he has made it as modestly serviceable
more workmanlike than usual, for their chief in the plan of his design as it well could be, it yet
defect is not a prettiness of handling which, to seems out of place, for it does not at once suggest
the British workman, might possibly suggest a a practical need that it could serve daily. Its
water-colour by Birket Foster. In former exhibi- rooms, to be sure, would be useful and pleasing,
tions many of the architects seemed anxious to but not more so than the other rooms in the
qualify their designs for the water-colour room ; house, which require for their protection no relic
this year they are much more practical, much less of masonry reminiscent of early forms of warfare ;
picturesque; and the change is welcome. The and then, why should such a tower be turned from
weakness to be deplored is one not of hand but of its real significance and made into a symbol of
mind ; there is a lack of independent judgment, ease, of quiet, comfortable living ?
of fresh and vigorous thought, of freedom and But if Mr. Arnold Mitchell is at fault in this
vitality of purpose. The drawings, indeed, are matter, he is quite right and at his best in the
nearer in touch with the Renaissance of long ago other features of his design, the distribution of the
than with that of our own time; and when every component parts of his Manor being particularly
allowance has been made for the causes of this fortunate.
imitation, there is room left for regret and surprise. The House at Wrotham, Kent, by Messrs.
As architecture inherits so much on its structural Niven & Wigglesworth, illustrated upon page
side—so much that is permanently good—even the 115, is a distinct success, the design, modest
HOUSE AT CROWBOROUGH M. H. BAILLIE SCOTT, ARCHITECT
Il6
originality; for the human mind has often among laziest imitators might well be content, and, being
its vagaries the curious habit of undervaluing content, might well find pleasure in creating some-
its own ideas and of over-estimating its collections thing all their own in the shape of ornament,
of facts. This is why the architects who copy the Also, it seems reasonable to believe that anything
old styles are always self-confident and dogmatic, obviously discordant with the needs of the present
Anyone who differs from them is a "charlatan" ; day might be shunned quite as easily by architects
they alone are the salt of the earth in matters of in their designs, as the use of obsolete words is
architecture. A slight variation of an, old motif, avoided by them in their speech. There is not
a motif with which they have long been familiar one among them who, in writing out a specifica-
—this, to them, is a sure and a great sign of tion, would hark back to the English of Sir John
originality; and so they spend their time at Maundeville. Yet this would be neither more
ease in a mental atmosphere of paraphrases, and affected nor more ridiculous than building a
are proud and happy. modern house with a mediaeval tower or keep.
A visit to the Architectural Room in this year's Mr. Arnold Mitchell, in his design for Maesycru-
exhibition at the Academy will not fail to con- giau Manor, illustrated on p. 120, tries his hand at
firm the truth of the foregoing remarks. We a rather militant-looking tower without battlements,
admit, indeed, that the drawings as a whole are and although he has made it as modestly serviceable
more workmanlike than usual, for their chief in the plan of his design as it well could be, it yet
defect is not a prettiness of handling which, to seems out of place, for it does not at once suggest
the British workman, might possibly suggest a a practical need that it could serve daily. Its
water-colour by Birket Foster. In former exhibi- rooms, to be sure, would be useful and pleasing,
tions many of the architects seemed anxious to but not more so than the other rooms in the
qualify their designs for the water-colour room ; house, which require for their protection no relic
this year they are much more practical, much less of masonry reminiscent of early forms of warfare ;
picturesque; and the change is welcome. The and then, why should such a tower be turned from
weakness to be deplored is one not of hand but of its real significance and made into a symbol of
mind ; there is a lack of independent judgment, ease, of quiet, comfortable living ?
of fresh and vigorous thought, of freedom and But if Mr. Arnold Mitchell is at fault in this
vitality of purpose. The drawings, indeed, are matter, he is quite right and at his best in the
nearer in touch with the Renaissance of long ago other features of his design, the distribution of the
than with that of our own time; and when every component parts of his Manor being particularly
allowance has been made for the causes of this fortunate.
imitation, there is room left for regret and surprise. The House at Wrotham, Kent, by Messrs.
As architecture inherits so much on its structural Niven & Wigglesworth, illustrated upon page
side—so much that is permanently good—even the 115, is a distinct success, the design, modest
HOUSE AT CROWBOROUGH M. H. BAILLIE SCOTT, ARCHITECT
Il6