LONDON GOES AHEAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 937, 2 April 1930, Page 6

LONDON GOES AHEAD

CHANGES IN HEART OF METROPOLIS The very heart of the City of London is being changed, and soon even those who do not as a rule notice buildings will find that they must change their cherished pictures of the Bank and its vicinity. So does architecture provide the scenery ' for civilised life and set the stage anew for us to change our action with our setting (writes the “Observer’s” architectural correspondent). The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street, assisted by Sir Herbert. Baker, is already rising up a little fussily, with her ancient petticoat still about her feet. Opposite, the great new Midland Bank has worked its way round the back from Poultry to Princes Street, and looks down on the Bank with all that cheerful inconsequence that Sir Edwin Lutyens can imparL. On the corner opposite the Mansion House another great bank is rising up, this one—the National Provincial —under the direction of Sir Edwin Cooper. Yet the Mansion House still remains where it did (although there has been talk of remodelling), and the Royal Exchange still provides a Corinthian portico to the facer’ of things. But close beside it, at the corner of Cornhill, another great temple of banking has appeared—that of Lloyds—to the designs of Sir John Burnet and Partners; and next door to this, and only just finished, is a great insurance office —the Commercial Union Assurance Company-—to the designs of Sir Aston Webb and Son. These are great names to conjure with. In the architectural firmament the stars have gathered together in one place. If the luminosity of the Leavens is not especially discernible in that place it will be most unfortunate.