Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/713

1869.] Modern Building Considered. 571 MODERN BUILDING CONSIDERED AND SOME IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED. I)ECENT casualties, both here and •> in Europe, have too distinctly shown how careless are some projectors of the management of the material with which they construct their designs. Nay, some treat the nature of the mate- rial itself with indifference. Thus, we too often see a certain poor description of brick used freely for the hearting of walls, as though the heart was to be the weakest part, and the thin surface, which is intended to meet the gaze of the passer-by, the best really, as well as in appearance. Stone, too, is subject to the same recklessness — shall we s&y, ignorance — of its actual qualities as a material in building. How often have we seen a class of stone used below ground, that was quite unfitted for such a location ? For, the stone family, like the human, has its special constitution, and is subject to all the penalties of its ill-usage. There are some species of stone, which will serve a good purpose, when sheltered from the transitions of climate, or the changes of weather ; others, on the contrary, will endure almost any amount of severity ; whilst others again will bear moderate hard- ship. Some, such as limestone, will ex- pand when under the influence of mois- tui-e, and some throw off latent damp when acted on by moderate heat. Some laminated stone will exfoliate when placed in a building in a position, or bed, different from that which it occu- pied in its native quarry. In fact, there are numerous characteristics of the stone family, which should be studied by the Architect, as well as the Builder, before any particular description of that material is chosen to occupy any certain position. There is no disguising the fact, that the great body of our profes- sional brethren are too much in the dark, with respect to the whole nature of the stone, the}' cause to be used in the walls of the building they design. But there is a still more serious defect, some- times to be found in the professional education of architects, both here and in Europe. We find the following item in that excellent American newspaper in Paris, The Continental Gazette : — " A church in course of construction at Liniere, in Luxembourg, fell to the ground, three days back, killing one workman and seriously injuring four others. The pillars had been made too weak for the superstructure." There can be no doubt that the catas- trophe, which is here alluded to, arose from misconstruction, which must have had its origin in want of that scientific education, which strengthens the mind of the architect, and enables him to re- duce to perfect practice that design ; which otherwise would be left to the chance, or the certainty, of such a mis- fortune as befel the church at Liniere. Whether the construction of the roof was defective, or the pillars insufficient for the support of the required weight and pressure, it is certain that there was a detect somewhere, and that such de- fect, of whatever nature, the architect was accountable for. And now we come to a subject nearer home: At a recent fire, which con- sumed a fine block in this city, it be- came evident, that the devouring element found a ready agent, to assist its pro- gress, in the flooring timbers, which were laid within the party-walls, and thus conducted the fire-fiend to fresh con- quests. That such a system of construction is clearly mischievous, we need not waste words to prove. It is a self-evident