DOI issue:
No. 175 (October, 1907)
DOI article:Scott, Mackay H. Baillie: On the characteristics of Mr. C.F.A. Voysey's architecture
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20776#0046
Mr. C. F. A. Voyserfs Architecture
"garden corner, chelsea: the library designed by c. f. a. voysby
sacrificing labour which is plainly expended—not designs as quite recently carried out at his town
for money, or even for fame, but merely for the .residence, "Garden Corner," Chelsea Embank-
love of the work for its own sake. Little is known ment. The house is semi-detached, and was
by the general public probably of the methods by built about twenty years ago. It was arranged
which an architect achieves his ends. To many it with one principal staircase to the first floor only,
is a simple matter involving little personal care, the subsidiary stairs from top to bottom of -the
The scheme originally hatched in the hotel smoking- seven floors being in a narrow dark slit by the side
room, or the club, is further developed by the of the grand stairs. The walls were lined with
office staff, while much is left to the builder. From oak veneer, stained a nut brown ; the rooms
such methods Mr. Voysey's work is far removed were so high that no reflected light was secured
indeed ! To look through a set of drawings for a from the ceilings, and the windows had two scales,
house prepared by him, is to recognise, in every the upper halves being in panes of smallish size, the
sheet, how all possibilities of error are eliminated lower glazed with huge sheets of plate-glass. Dark-
by the most careful and conscientious forethought, ness and gloom prevailed when Mr. Horniman
The scheme is worked out on paper so fully and came into possession of the house,
completely that it explains itself. In the process of transformation, the grand stair-
Only a real devotion to the work will inspire case was taken out, the veneer torn off the walls,
such indefatigable labour : and this is largely the and most of the doors and windows were removed,
cause of Mr. Voysey's success. The basement has been rearranged and lined
M. H. Baillie Scott. throughout with van Straaten's white Dutch tiles,
- and light captured wherever possible. An electric
By the courtesy of Mr. E. J. Horniman, M.P., lift by Messrs. Waygood and Co. serves all floors,
we are enabled to give in the accompanying series and is fitted with a specially designed plain oak
of illustrations some examples of Mr. Voysey's cage to match the new joinery, which on the ground
24
"garden corner, chelsea: the library designed by c. f. a. voysby
sacrificing labour which is plainly expended—not designs as quite recently carried out at his town
for money, or even for fame, but merely for the .residence, "Garden Corner," Chelsea Embank-
love of the work for its own sake. Little is known ment. The house is semi-detached, and was
by the general public probably of the methods by built about twenty years ago. It was arranged
which an architect achieves his ends. To many it with one principal staircase to the first floor only,
is a simple matter involving little personal care, the subsidiary stairs from top to bottom of -the
The scheme originally hatched in the hotel smoking- seven floors being in a narrow dark slit by the side
room, or the club, is further developed by the of the grand stairs. The walls were lined with
office staff, while much is left to the builder. From oak veneer, stained a nut brown ; the rooms
such methods Mr. Voysey's work is far removed were so high that no reflected light was secured
indeed ! To look through a set of drawings for a from the ceilings, and the windows had two scales,
house prepared by him, is to recognise, in every the upper halves being in panes of smallish size, the
sheet, how all possibilities of error are eliminated lower glazed with huge sheets of plate-glass. Dark-
by the most careful and conscientious forethought, ness and gloom prevailed when Mr. Horniman
The scheme is worked out on paper so fully and came into possession of the house,
completely that it explains itself. In the process of transformation, the grand stair-
Only a real devotion to the work will inspire case was taken out, the veneer torn off the walls,
such indefatigable labour : and this is largely the and most of the doors and windows were removed,
cause of Mr. Voysey's success. The basement has been rearranged and lined
M. H. Baillie Scott. throughout with van Straaten's white Dutch tiles,
- and light captured wherever possible. An electric
By the courtesy of Mr. E. J. Horniman, M.P., lift by Messrs. Waygood and Co. serves all floors,
we are enabled to give in the accompanying series and is fitted with a specially designed plain oak
of illustrations some examples of Mr. Voysey's cage to match the new joinery, which on the ground
24