Items related to Hints on building a church
Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 Excerpt: ...practical disadvantages. I strongly advised him to spend the money in a good permanent roof at a slightly higher level, and in erecting a western open tower. Unfortunately it is not etiquette to interfere with the authority of a recognised architect on the opinion of a mere outsider, and the work went on. Some time afterwards I revisited the church to find all my forebodings realised. A lofty clerestory and high-pitched roof had been added; and the previously well-proportioned, spacious edifice had shrunk into an oppressively narrow, insignificant, toy-like chapel. The extra height had dwarfed everything. No moral is suggested to the effect that clerestories should be avoided, or that clients ought to throw over an experienced architect at the bidding of some irresponsible critic. The only lesson I wish to draw from this little episode is, how important a matter is due proportion of parts. It must not be left to chance, but must be very carefully thought out. In the older days, when a dozen years were not thought too long to decide in what form a building should be handed down to future generations, there were models made, and sometimes trials with temporary erections. We in this restless age are in a hurry to get the contract signed and the work completed without delay. Plans, sections and elevations on paper are often deemed sufficient data for all purposes. The sense of proportion is rarely born in a man. It comes only to one closely conversant with Nature, or to the man of the world who has acquired it by observation and culture. Old writers on Architecture condensed the experience of the ages into a series of maxims, which the curious in these matters will find elaborated in a work by Robert Morris, entitled " Lectures on Architecture, consisting ...
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