Our 24th Student's Competition

Progress, Volume X, Issue 1, 1 September 1914, Page 13

Our 24th Student's Competition

ESSAY ON THE USE OF COLOUR IN ARCHITECTURE Won by Neville H. Arden ("Blue") New Plymouth Only three essays were sent in for this competition viz:—''Blue" by N. H. Arden, with Mr. F. Messenger, New Plymouth; "Revival" by Edward D. Eeidy with Messrs. May & Morran, A.E.1.8.A., Auckland; and "Colour" by H. R. Saunders with Mr. T. L. Flaus, Christchurch. The paucity of entries is a little disappointing considering the simplicity of the subject set by the judge, Mr. Basil Hooper, A.R.T.B.A. of Dunedin, but as this is the first of a proposed series, no doubt more entries will be received for later competitions. We publish below the judge's comments on the three essays sent in and also the winner's essay by "Blue." If space permits the second prize essay will be published next month. The judge says: "Before offering any criticism on the essays, I must say how pleased I was to see that the competitors had evidently had to read their Histories of Architecture pretty thoroughly from beginning to end. This in itself is a good result obtained, and the Students should gain great good from this indirect result alone. The "placing" has been rather a difficult matter, as the general quality of the essays has not been, marked by any very great difference between them, but after carefully going through them

several times, I have awarded; first place to "Blue," second place to "Colour" and third place to "Revival." V A- " ' " : ::- ■ ■ i !

Generally speaking the subject has been very well treated though the historical side has been made more of than I intended. I hoped for more original ideas as to present day requirements. Being essays, naturally one looks for a certain amount of literary style, not to mention correct spelling, punctuation and grammar. But unfortunately none of these points have been realised; in every case the essay has been full of mistakes, showing that carelessness has been displayed in reading over the copy, and also that insufficient attention has been paid to proper phrasing and clearness of expression. Students should realise, that when they go into business themselves, a clearly written "report," for instance, is of far more value than one full of ambiguities and errors, and therefore it behoves them to pay attention to such details and cultivate a good style. Doubtless the mistakes in spelling will be corrected by the printer and so will not appear in the published copies, but otherwise I presume the essays will be printed as they were written. I do not therefore propose to pick out any special faults, but leave the writers themselves to consider where they could improve matters in the way of style etc. A few of the facts I consider j are not quite correct; e.g., "Blue" says that the Greeks did not use colour, except for the less important buildings, but as a matter of fact they often did put a thin covering of cement on their best buildings and picked out the mouldings in colour. "Blue's" theory as to the Sun shining through the stained glass of the Gothic windows, denoting Christianity in "Gothic Colouring," contrasted with the Paganism inherent in frescoes and Mosaic, is ingenious, though not expressed very clearly. "Blue'' does not mention which materials "used for their colour in Sunny lands," would soon decay in moistureladen atmospheres? "Colour" mentions, towards the middle of his essay, that "In Romanesque Architecture, subject as it was to many influences, the Mosaics being influenced by the Byzantine ... " The meaning is rather hard to follow here. He also asserts, a little later on,-that the roofs of the Gothic Churches, "in every case" had colour applied. It is only in exceptional cases that this was so. Then towards the end "Colour" makes the astonishing assertion that England has a much "milder" climate than Italy. I presume he means "cooler." "Revival" informs us that the Greek's method of employing colour is "considered the standard of perfection." Quite likely they themselves thought so. The item about the "brick walls at St. Sophia at Constantinople being plastered over and distempered white and red, to represent stone and brick," news to me. I would not say that "Brunelleschi was responsible for the introduction of Renaissance Architecture," though he certainly helped a great deal. -',, ...? ) In conclusion I hope some more essays will be added to the list of Progress Competitions, as it is evident they can serve a very useful purpose." V BASIL HOOPER.