AN IMPERIAL BUILDING

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1929, Page 7

AN IMPERIAL BUILDING

(.By B. ,S. Towuroe, M.A. Han. A.1t.1.8.A.) 'lmperial Ohcmicnl House, the new headquarters of Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, stands on one of the finest sites in the Empire. Its frontage is along the Embankment by the Thames, a,nd the'main entrance is only two minutes’ walk away from the House of Lords and Westminster Abbey. Thus amid surroundings associated with the history of Great [Britain during the last thousand years has been built London’s mosi modern and finest commercial building. The close connection of the chemical business with the Empire is emphasised as soon as the visitor conn's to the central entrance doors on Millbank. There above the lintel may be seen a large carved panol with a design based on the -seal of the Company, showjing the figure of Britannia in strong relief against a maritime background.

THE PLAN

The a-'ruhitoeture 'of this Imperial building in English Renaissance in style. 'flic architect, Sir Frank Baines, who was formerly Director of Works at the Office of Works, has been very careful to avoid all unnec--1 ossarv decoration or waste of space. The economy essential when building on probably the most valuable piece of open ground in the Empire lias been continuously in his mind, and therefore this Palace of Industry is not in any way loaded with what some architects call “pie-crust.” There is no unnecessary campanile or useless dome. Every inch of floor area is planned so as to help forward the efficiency of the business. Thus the art of architecture has been happily wedded to commerce.

FOUNDATIONS

The foundations are largely based on concrete piles, which if placed end to end would extend seven and a half miles. This was necessary owing to the size of the building with a weight -estimated to he 150,000 tons. Ihe site was at one time" a marsh by tiie river Thames. This presented many difficulties in excavations in order that firm ground might he reached. Indeed, during the clearing of the site the remains of ancient buildings dating back almost to the time of the Roman occupation of Britain uerc encountered. Continuously by day and night for four months tiie excavators laboured. Then piles were driven in, 1,300 altogether, and in some eases hammered as far down as 40ft below the surface. At one end of the site a reinforced concrete raft was built, and on another part 22 steel caissons had to ho sunk. It, will he seen therefore that the foundations are of great solidity and careful planning. The offices provide 700 separate rooms. Some idea of the size of the building may be gained from the fact that the total volume is ovor 0,000.090 cu.ft.; the floor area is about- 070.009 sq.ft.; the internal partition wails have an area of 7 acres; and the aggregate length of the corridors is nearly 2.V miles. ENTER,TOR. From the outside the building is most impressive. It possesses a dignity that harmonises with the Palm-e j of Westminster and the Abbey i-Lise ! bv. Owing to its size and proportions i it- stands out boldly among the range of buildings on the north side of the Thames n.s seen from the other side of the river, being no intruder of the 29th centurv clashing with the historic lvdidiires of the ■"ast-. It is dearly an industrial building, but t has iv noble simplicity. Tt is gem?rally agreed that Lord | Melchett and his colleagues on the ! Board of Imperial Chemical Tndes- | tries Limited have given the MetroI pdis one of the most distinguished | buildings of modern times, i The ground floor elevation of ‘the nudn facades, is in blue-grey granite I hilt above this the building is covered with white Portland stone to the ! ridge of the roof. The skeleton <>| j the building is of course of steel. The I steel construction work utilised weigh { cd (3,500 tons. | This is no skyscraper, for the J height of buildings is very drastically

regulated in London, and many architectural designs that would be pormited in the United States or in Canada are rigidly prohibited by the London Building Act. Accordingly the walls rise perpendicularly on the main fronts to the fifth floor, but on th,at floor they have had to be set back. On this floor lonic do mi ados stand in stately array. This feature to m.v 'mind gives the note of distinction to the building. Here is no cidf of Portland stone, but an expression of the wisdom of British ‘captains of industry’ who have entrusted the design of their business headquarters fo the inspiration of a great modern' architect. Sir Frank Baines lias made full use of the opportunities offered.

The white stone roof wifi be a iandmar.k ‘in the Metropolis during Hie day. just as during the night the immense electric flood lights in the main Ulterior courts will throw shafts of light into the sky, showing to the flnillirns of Tpndon inhabitants that Imperial Chemical Industries are awake and at work.

There is a significance in this white roof and in the beams of light, which augurs well for the future of B.it'.sli ihulusrty. They arc indications that the Home Country contains men "ho are fully alive to modern needs and new conditions, and that at any late in the chemical industry, one of the key industries of the world , there is no stagnation.

Each time I. have visited Impeval Chemical House from the day when I first looked down the deep excavation into London’s subsoil, I came a.wiay cheered by 'tlie thought that the criticisms made -abroad by some of the enemies of England to tiie effect that British industrialists were somnolent and drifting, oblivious of the world’s progress, wore untrue and unjustified. Imperial Chemical ilouse seems to me to he a challenge fo the World, to show that we in the Old Country without “frantic boast and foolish word” are working strenuously and studiously so as to make full use of the resources of modern science.

A MIRACLE OF BUILDING

There are no idle words. The proof of the way that modern methods and mechanical appliances have been utilised is that Imperial Chemical House was built in less than one-third of the normal time required for a building of such magnitude. American builders, who have been allowed to go -»ver it during course.of construction, frankly confess that they doubt whether they could have built a similar building Hinder such difficult conditions, and providing such variety of interior decoration of panelling, lighting and carving in so short a. time in the United States. In that country, as is well known, skyscrapers are erected at what seems to be miraculous rapidity, but it must he remembered that -’ll immense amount oi cjetailed work for .months previously is carried out by the architect and his staff, so that plans and carefully prepared schedules may he available for the contractor ami all his sub-contractors. There was no such period of preparation at Imperial Chemical House. Lord Melchett and his colleagues de'•idecl to build on one day, and by the next morning work was actually started on the site. Under such conditions very little information could he given at the commencement as to the exact requirements, and so design and calculation had to proceed simultaneously. There had, therefore-, to be very " close co-operation' about the structural steel work, the architectural. features, the engineering services, and the actual building. There were ninety different linns engaged, and their activities were regulated at weekly conferences at which the Chief Architect reviewed progress. He issued no fewer than 58,000 drawings for the guidance of the contractors. The ground was extremely treacherous tlx- basement was flooded early m 1928 when the Thames overflowed its banks. In spite of all these handicaps five months before the expiration of the two years that had been <il!o<\fd for the building, five floors of the main buildings wore actually occcupicd Furthermore, so nipidivas^Uie

growth of Imperial Chemical Industries that while the main building was only half completed, the Directors decided that it was necessary to construct an extension in order to accommodate the increasing staffs. The construction of this extension was not started until March 1928, but four floors were available for occupation with tlio remainder of the main budding early in February 1929.

IM PERIAL DECORATIONS

Before entering, let us study some of the external decorations which have their own particular interest for those who live in the Dominions. In the main facade, deep arches rise from the third to the fifth floor, and on each arch may he seen a face carved in stone, representing some world famed figure in the chemical industry. Here are the portraits of Liebig, Priestley. Ludwig Mond, -Lord Melchett, Sir Harry MacGowan, Lavoisier, Mendeloef and Cavendish, These are so admirably carved that they well hear iiipsection through field-glasses, as; each one is a gem of the sculptor s art. Inset too in each arch may he seen either a. shell or a peacock willi wings outspread, symbolising incorruptibility. On the main front there arc groups of statuary representing the primary industries of Agriculture, Transport, Chemistry 'and Building. The South African, the Canadian, the Australian and the visitor from India may also find on the outside walls carvings of the protea, the maple leaf, the wattle and the lotus. Each leaf of the entrance doors weighs over two tons. ' In the main entrance hall the emblems of Empire are carved in marble. They are reproduced in plaster in the Refectory, and carved over the main doorways and lift entrances. There is .ndeod so much symbolism contained in the internal decorations that hours could be spent studying them, and I can well imagine Macaulay’s New Zealander in centuries to come spend,ng his day examining the details of the interior of Imperial Chemical House in ‘the year 2,300 A.D. WELFARE OF STAFF.

Tiie .building is carefully planned for the industry of to-day and special 'Mention has been given to the comfort and-health of every memoer of the staff from the messenger boys to the Directors. They will all work under ideal conditions. If they arrive in wet clothes these can no dried in specially fitted drying rooms. r !hev will occupy rooms with windows fitted with quartz glass so that the full violet rays of the sun may penetrate. Even the artificial illumination is “natural daylight.” This is the only building in the world lit throughout by daylight illumination, and therefore one on which the “sun neveif The air is changed several

times an hour, but there are no draughts. Ozone air also is installed in a number of rooms. For drinicing and other purposes over 100,000 gallons of pure water per day are drawn from the deep chalk wells hundreds of feet below. Dust and dirt are taken away by vacuum exhausts. There are hidden sources of heat in the walls. Lunch and tea are served to 1500 employees an hour in a spacious Refectory from kitchens that are probably the best equipped in Europe. After working hours the staff may descend to the basement where they will be able to enjoy exercise and recreation in a fully equipped gymnasium, squash rackets courts, Badminton courts, and a rifle range.

All this provision for the efficiency and happiness of the staff has been installed in this remarkable building, every detail of which is based on the highest scientific and architectural standard of design and construction, at a speed and execution less than one-third that of the normal rate of building. Imperial Chemical House is a proof to the world of the readiness of leaders of the Chemical Industry in Great Britain to adopt now ideas and new methods.