284 THE ARCHITECTURAL ANNUAL "THE INTERSTATE ARCHITECT AND BUILDER " In no sense a publication of the profession and scarcely architectural even, yet we feel compelled to refer to this "breezy" builder's business-like sheet on account of its enterprise in publishing a series of articles by Louis H. Sullivan which, in our opinion, forms the most important contribution to architectural literature that has appeared in serial form during recent years. By putting these essays, modestly called "Kindergarten Chats," into book form, The Interstate Publishing Company would do students of architecture a real service. "PROGRESS" There can be no doubt as to the timeliness of instruction in such a theme as is offered in the course of "University Lessons on the Fine Arts" by the International Art Association in their excellent monthly, "Progress." It forms the basis of a correspondence school "for the promotion of the fine arts." The price of the complete course of twelve numbers is $7.50, including examination, if desired. The periodical is well edited and beautifully illustrated. Its contributors are mostly professors in universities and art institutes, and it will be found an accurate and convenient work for rapid study. Published monthly under the editorship of Edmund Buckley, A.M., Ph.D., by the International Art Association. The object of the Atlanta T-Square Club's Supplement is to secure funds for the furnishing of the new rooms, 14 and 15 Grant Building; to purchase a library; to continue the classes in design, construction, etc., on an enlarged scale; to maintain a secretary, and keep the rooms open at all times to members and traveling representatives of manufacturers of building materials, etc. The announcement goes on to say: "In marked contrast to the catalogues of the Architectural Club Catalogues, the Atlanta T-Square Club Supplement will be mailed as a supplement to the Southern Architect and Building News, etc." In other words, a promising organization, that honored itself first by adopting the name of the most active architectural club in the country, is now making itself the tail to a trades journal kite. To show, further, how these young men have been duped, the prospectus adds: "Advertisements may be either displayed or in the form of a reading notice." Should any one of the leading journals undertake to finance a struggling architectural club, THE ANNUAL Would not only applaud the endeavor but back it to the uttermost; but in this case we can only hope that the character of the contents of the forthcoming pamphlet may raise the standard of a cheap advertising sheet without damaging the reputation of the Atlanta Club. "SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE " In 1898-1900 there appeared in The Brickbuilder a series of papers on "The American Schoolhouse," by Edmund M. Wheelwright. The success of these papers suggested the publication of this book, in which the original material has been recast and the scope of the subject has been greatly widened. Many American schools not considered in the original papers are illustrated and described, but the work is especially enriched from foreign sources. Examples are presented of the most typical and practically suggestive schools of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Scandinavian countries, THE ARCHITECTURAL ANNUAL 285 England and France, the subject being more comprehensively treated than in any book heretofore published. All details of school construction are considered, yet the information is studiously condensed within the limits of a convenient handbook, which is made readily accessible by an unusually full index. As its sub-title states, the book is written "for the use of architects and others;" its readers are not presupposed to have had a professional training, and technical terms, where used, have been clearly defined. It is hardly necessary to refer to Mr. Wheelwright's wide experience in the designing and construction of schools, or to his general recognition as an authority on school architecture. Of all the needed volumes, this is one that will appeal to the largest number of people interested in modern building. It is destined to be of the widest usefulness. Every school board should be guided by it. No architect should be without it. By Edmund M. Wheelwright. Rogers & Manson, Boston. Size, 71⁄2 x 101⁄2 inches. 350 pp. 250 illustrations. Price, $5 delivered. THE IMPROVEMENT OF TOWNS AND CITIES BY CHARLES MULFORD ROBINSON In showing what has been done during the past few years on both sides of the water to improve cities, towns and villages, Mr. Robinson has produced a book of widespread interest and value. It is difficult to add anything to what has already been said in its favor. Officially recommended by the Architectural League of America at its last convention, and generally endorsed by thoughtful people, its stands alone as the only comprehensive work of its kind in the English language. It is practical, well written, well classified, and, above all, timely and stimulating. That it will prove instructive and a real force in the civic-beauty movement goes without saying. The architect who reads but one book a year can do no better than study "The Improvement of Towns and Cities." "The practical basis of civic æsthetics" is treated in all its branches under the following headings: 12mo., $1.25 net; $1.35 by mail. J. P. Putnam's Sons, New York. "AMERICAN MUNICIPAL PROGRESS " BY PROF. CHARLES ZUEBLIN A volume of popular interest is soon to be added to the Citizens Library of Economics, Politics and Sociology, which will include the following chapters: CHAP. I. MUNICIPAL SOCIOLOGY. Distinction between city, municipality and urban district. Methods and subjects of investigation. The composite city. CHAP. 2. TRANSPORTATION. Grade crossings. Union stations. Water fronts. Ferries, bridges, tunnels. Rapid transit. Contemporary street railway development. CHAP. 3. PUBLIC WORKS. Fire department. Street department. Lighting. Conclusion. CHAP. 4. SANITATION. Death-rate. Housing. Water-supply. Sewerage. Markets. Smoke. Expectoration. Public conveniences. Conclusion. 286 THE ARCHITECTURAL ANNUAL CHAP. 5. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Introduction. Lack of funds. Washington. Kindergartens. Nature-study. Manual training. Domestic science. Vacation schools. Commercial high schools. Discipline. Night schools. Lectures. Social uses of the schools. Home gardening association. Art teaching. Decoration. Compulsory education. Conclusion. CHAP. 6. PUBLIC LIBRARIES. History. Library commissions. Library legislation. Library growth. Library functions. Conclusion. CHAP. 7. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Popular ideals. Library buildings. Art galleries and museums. Decoration. Other municipal buildings. City halls. Grouping. Public schools. Conclusion. CHAP. 8. PARKS AND BOULEVARDS European and American parks. Area and distribution. Boulevards. Small parks. Great parks. Park systems. Massachusetts public reservations. Recreation in the park. Playgrounds. Legislation in New York. Public baths. CHAP. 9. PUBLIC RECREATION. Recreation piers. Public gymnasiums. Price, $1.25. Macmillan & Co., New York. A perfectly charming volume from which the unimaginative architect or client may borrow ideas to their heart's content. Its 450 illustrations include views of the greatest and the most interesting gardens in England. It will be found stimulating to the original designer, too; since many an architectural accessory, fountain, terrace, gateway, or whatever it may be, offers suggestions from an infinite variety of everyday problems. The illustrations are large and clear, and the points of view have been selected with judgment and artistic knowledge, thus unlike so many books on gardening, this one is a beautiful panorama, which considers the garden as a whole, and "in its larger artistic aspect" as an "environment." It represents the cream from the well-known magazine Country Life of London. We heartily recommend it. One volume; folio, ornamental cloth gilt. Price, $15.00. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. "DOMESTIC COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE OF NEW ENGLAND" BY CORNER AND SODERHOLTZ The many architects who have been unable to secure a copy of this standard work, which has for some time been out of print, will be glad to learn of the appearance of a new edition. The plates have been carefully reproduced by the albertype process from Mr. Soderholtz's original negatives, and the book is presented in improved form. 50 plates, 12 x 15 inches, with introduction. Price in portfolio, $12.00; bound in half-morocco, $14.00. Bates & Guild, Boston. "SPANISH-COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE IN MEXICO" The Spanish-Colonial architecture of Mexico represents the first development of the depictive arts in the western hemisphere after the introduction of European civilization. With its auxiliary arts, sculpture and painting, it illustrates the most extensive and the richest æsthetic movement that has yet taken place in the New World. Beginning with the Conquest, its history covers a period of nearly four centuries, during which, fostered by Church and State, it filled the land with works of a THE ARCHITECTURAL ANNUAL 287 monumental character. Upon the erection and embellishment of these was lavished the wealth created by the vast mining industries and the great resources of the most splendid province of the Spanish Empire. In the work to which attention is hereby called, Mr. Sylvester Baxter has made the first comprehensive study of this most important subject. Outside of Mexico little has been known of this aspect of its architecture. As a development from the Spanish Renaissance in the New World it has a character of its own that makes its recording of value to the student and lover of art. Many visitors to Mexico have been disappointed at their inability to obtain satisfactory representations of the rich architecture of the country, which forms one of the chief attractions for cultivated tourists. Mr. Baxter was well equipped for undertaking this work through his long familiarity with Mexico and his deep interest in and knowledge of its architecture. His purpose was enthusiastically approved by the late Frederic E. Church and Charles Dudley Warner, both of whom did so much to acquaint the outside world with the manifold charms of Mexico, and by many of the leading architects of the country. In carrying out his undertaking, which was a work of no small magnitude, Mr. Baxter had the expert assistance of Mr. Henry Greenwood Peabody, whose reputation as an artistic photographer is national, and of Mr. Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, a member of the American Institute and the Boston Society of Architects. The photographs, which were specially made for the work, were taken with particular regard to architectural character, and at the same time the value of picturesque effect was not overlooked. A very large collection was made as a basis for the selections necessary to a judicious representation of the subject. At the same time, Mr. Goodhue made careful plans of typical edifices, ecclesiastical and secular. The work will be issued in two limited editions. The "Tresguerras edition," in honor of the last great Mexican architect, Francisco Eduardo de Tresguerras, comprises one volume of text and plans and twelve volumes of plates, 200 in number. Since the element of color is often a factor of exceptional importance in Mexican architecture, and particularly on account of the brilliant use of glazed tile in exterior decoration, this edition will include ten large platinum photographs, about fourteen by seventeen inches in size, colored by hand after originals by the author. This edition will be limited to seventy-five copies, and will be sold at the price of $300 a copy. The "Gomez de Mora edition," in honor of the designer of the first great monumental works in Mexico, the cathedrals of Mexico and of Puebla, the court architect of Philip IV, will comprise ten volumes one of text-plans and nine of plates, 150 in number. This edition will be limited to 310 copies and will be sold at the price of $150 a copy. "A DICTIONARY OF ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING " EDITED BY RUSSELL STURGIS, A.M., PH.D. A fully illustrated encyclopedic dictionary, having a wider scope than any of its predecessors, and being a "book of reference" without being dry. A general account of the existing architecture in all countries is given, and is often treated from several viewpoints, as the editor has been assisted by an able list of contributors representing several professions. Well-known experts add weight to special articles, and the fulness with which each subject is defined, illustrated, and described, makes the work invaluable to students. In three quarto volumes. $18.00 a set in cloth; $30.00 in half-morocco. Forwarded free. The Macmillan Company, New York. "VIGNOLA" (The Five Orders of Architecture: Revised Edition, containing the Greek Orders) BY PIERRE ESQUIÉ, FRENCH GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT This latest edition of the "Architects' Bible and Primer" has been adopted as the standard by the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris, and contains many improvements over the former versions. The plates have been beautifully redrawn by M. Esquié, and much new material added, notably by the inclusion of the Greek Orders. To make this edition accessible to Americans, the publishers have imported the French plates and accompanied them by an accurate translation of the explanatory notes, together with a glos 288 THE ARCHITECTURAL ANNUAL sary. In its American form the book has been commended by the professors of many of our leading colleges as unquestionably the best version of "Vignola" that has yet appeared. Seventy-eight plates, 10 x 12 inches, with notes and glossary. Strongly bound with linen plate guards. "AMERICAN GARDENS" ILLUSTRATED FROM PHOTOGRAPHS. EDITED BY GUY LOWELL In no department of the Fine Arts has America made such rapid progress as in the designing of gardens. Twenty years ago there were not more than a dozen private gardens in this country worthy of the name, and these, most of them survivals from the Colonial Period, were rapidly falling into decay. Within the past ten years, however, American architects and landscape gardeners, as well as scores of laymen, have set themselves to the solution of the problem of garden-making in America. Forced by conditions of climate and environment to work along new lines, they have developed a native type of garden designs, which, though necessarily very different from the types of Italy or England, is not inferior in beauty, "American Gardens" is intended to show what has thus been accomplished, and its illustrations will prove a delightful astonishment. It contains, in addition to sketch plans, about 180 views from specially made photographs, showing in detail more than 50 of the best American private gardens. The introduction by Mr. Guy Lowell, instructor in landscape architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, treats specifically of garden design in this country. About 140 pages, size 10 x 12 inches, bound in gold and green with cover design by Henry McCarter. Price $7.50 net. Bates & Guild, Boston. "LETTERS AND LETTERING" BY FRANK CHOUTEAU BROWN This book is designed as a compendium of examples of all the worthy styles of letters, ancient and modern, which will be found of actual practical use by the architect, designer, and decorator of to-day. Over one hundred complete alphabets are shown, redrawn from the original sources, and dating from the Roman architectural inscriptions to the latest inventions of contemporary letterers. In making the choice, however, all examples not both intrinsically worthy or adapted to present use have been excluded. In the accompanying text, the author has, after a brief historical introduction, devoted himself to a practical treatment of the drawing of each individual letter in the various standard styles, their relations to each other, the spacing of words, the arrangement of letters in panels and in compositions, etc.; he also describes the methods of actual practice which have been found most useful. Size 5 x 71⁄2 inches. Bates & Guild, Boston. "ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSES" (New Edition) The publishers have been obliged to reprint this book, which is devoted to showing the best examples of the smaller English country houses, which have proved so suggestive for rural and suburban work in this country. The book contains 100 plates, 1034 x 14 inches, reproduced by the albertype process from photographs. The second edition is printed from the same negatives and is identical with the first. Price, in portfolio, $10.00; bound in half morocco, $12.00. Bates & Guild, Boston. |