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XVI. - PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.

1. METROPOLITAN STREET ARCHITECTURE.

Nearly all the gaps in New Oxford-street are now filled up, and it gives us pleasure to perceive that some of the latest elevations are also some of the best, and are in a style of architecture incomparably superior to that of Regent-street, which is excessively flimsy and jejune. There is one range of building in particular on the north side of New Oxford-street, between George-street and Tottenham-court-road, which, provided equally good taste be shown in its ornamentation and details-for as yet it is only in the rough brickwork-will be an excellent specimen of street architecture. It consists of eleven large arches on the ground-floor, which will be filled in with shop fronts, separated from each other by the piers of the arches, and above them will be two floors with only a single window in each, but between those of the first floor there will be a niche over each pier below, and between those of the second floor a panel or something of that kind, and there will also be circular panels or niches between the arches. What will ultimately be made of this elevation we cannot say, but it promises admirably well, for it is striking even in its present sketched-out state. It certainly contrasts very strongly with the opposite elevation which is over-crammed with windows; so that here the opposite sides of the street will exhibit two very opposite modes of treatment, and must, we should say, convince every one that, whatever it may be as a tax, the window-tax is-if that has influence in the matter-a positive blessing to architectural design. We have here only a single window-and quite enough too-where there would formerly have been three-to the utter forfeiture of architectural character, and the injury of architectural composition, as is proved by too many instances. In the original Oxford-street a new front (No. 86, nearly opposite Blenheim steps) displays far more than usual attention to studied design. It can, indeed, be considered only as a specimen, it being too lofty in proportion to its width, and consequently showing as little better than a mere upright strip, but it also exhibits more than ordinary attention to design, and also some freshness of design. It would, however, have been all the better without the projecting balcony continued along the second floor, for that seems to encumber the front, and divides it in a manner into two distinct portions.

A decided improvement will be found to have taken place in street architecture, if we compare examples of the present day with the houses of the same class that used to be built formerly; nor is it merely because some degree of ornateness is now generally affected; since unless such aim be directed by discretion and good taste, it is apt to produce nothing better than the vulgar showiness and tawdry frippery which distinguished the metropolitan gin-palaces some years ago. We still, indeed, get too much of the merely ambitiously showy, of mere builders' architecture," in which the stalest commonplaces of design awkwardly put together are substituted for "composition ;"-but, on the whole, architectural grammar is better

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attended to, and better proportions observed. In consequence there is now an increased appearance of substantiality; and even where there is nothing to excite positive admiration, neither is there, speaking generally, any thing that gives positive offence. In proof of this may be mentioned the new Model Lodging Houses for Families, which are now being erected in Streatham-street. New Oxford-street, which if not exactly models of taste also, will at least be marked by an appearance of solidity and substantiality, in which all our house and street architecture, not excepting even the better class of it, has been hitherto sadly deficient, owing to the very disproportionate quantity of space occupied by windows,-a great assistance, by the by, to the rapid extension of the flames in case of fire. Should, as is not altogether unlikely, improvement find its way into Great Russell-street, and the houses there facing the British Museum be taken down and rebuilt, it is not at all unlikely also that they will eclipse those which have been erected as the wings of the Museum itself, and which, besides being excessively meagre and tame as to design, show how utterly impossible it is to reconcile the character of a columnar order (as pilasters) with the indispensable requirements of a quite different system, namely, that of fenestration.

Endell-street, Long-acre, is still in a very unfinished state; so also is the continuation northwards of Farringdon-street, which it to be completed as begun, will prove but a very dowdy sample of street architecture. As to what is being done in Watling-street, we cannot yet speak: the mere widening it will undoubtedly be a very great material improvement, but whether it is also to be inoculated with architectural taste is more than we can yet say. In Blackfriars a new line has been opened from Bridge-street as far as Whitefriars and Bouverie streets, but as there it terminates it is of comparatively little utility; whereas had it been possible to carry it on, through the Temple, it would have greatly relieved the crowded traffic through Fleet-street and Temple-bar.

It has so frequently happened that we have mentioned schemes, or rumours of them, of which nothing has yet come, that we are somewhat mistrustful as to what is said of its being intended to complete the buildings forming Somerset-place* by the erection of a new Stamp Office, on their west side, along Wellington-street. That side is at present in the most disgraceful condition. Although it is in one of the very finest situations for architectural display, it now quite disfigures by its ugliness and meanness the approach to Waterloo Bridge. Many other projects which have been spoken of from time to time as if they were about to be realized, have fallen into oblivion. We hear nothing now of a new Westminster Bridge; or new Law Courts; or a Public Record Office, although the last has been called for as a work of urgent necessity. Neither do we hear any thing more of the intention, if it ever really existed, of alter

"Place"-as used in this and a few other instances-is only a contraction of "palace" so that were etymology attended to, nearly all the so-called places in and about the metropolis would be displaced from the rank assumed by them, unless it could be shown that some palace had formerly existed on their sites.

ing the Horse Guards and Admiralty so as to form a continuous range of architecture towards Whitehall; yet there even the gap between Downing and Fludyer-streets has long been left and still remains to be filled up. To say the truth, no sort of system at all is observed for such matters, unless it be the system of patch-work, and doing things bit by bit, without any well preconceived general scheme. Such want of systematic scheme shows itself plainly enough in Trafalgar-square, if no where else. That so-called Square, of which it has been observed that it is one without a right angle in it, has been made only an assemblage of incoherent architectural scraps and patches.

The completion of the Nelson Monument seems to be approaching, one of the bronze relievos, that by Carew, representing the Death of Nelson, having been put up on the south side of the pedestal, although not yet uncovered. Doubts have been expressed as to the effect of such embellishment. Satisfactory as the reliefs themselves may prove, it is apprehended that they will ultimately show very little better than so many black surfaces, just as the capital of the column, executed in the same material, instead of displaying Corinthian richness and delicacy, makes no better appearance than that of a heavy, black mass. The very quality which recommends bronze for large statues placed in the open air, disqualifies it as a material for anaglyphic sculpture upon a similar scale, and similarly exposed to the weather. At all events, if bronze was to be employed at all, it should have been done more consistently; if the capital of the column was to be of that material the base should have been so likewise; and if the panels of the pedestal were to be filled in with bronze, of bronze also should have been the figure on the summit of the column.

2. CHURCHES, &c.

THE Gothic or mediæval style may be said to be the "order" of the day for churches, almost to the exclusion of any other. In our opinion this is somewhat to be regretted, because those which are erected in towns, and situated in streets, might very properly be made to partake of the general character adopted for other public structures, and yet have a distinct character of their own. We certainly deprecate a return to the taste of what has been called the Greek mania period, when what ought to have been Grecian elegance and refinement, was converted into the most bald and flattest prose. Design then seldom amounted to anything more than sticking up four or six columns beneath a pediment against what was in all other respects of most puritan physiognomy. It is rather matter of encouragement than the contrary that what was then produced was in general so utterly unworthy of imitation; because architects are thereby emancipated from the trammels imposed by the having to adhere to direct models, and would become at liberty to improve freely, where improvement would be as easy as the occasion for it is obvious. Just at present, however, adherence to models and precedents is made a sine qua non for this class of buildings'; and archæological study to give it its best name-may be said to have turned

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