154 THE NEW UNION BUILDINGS. 



Now, a specially good item in the contract is its liberal pro- 

 vision for the expenses of setting- up full-sized models for any 

 features so desired, in order to enable further and more compre- 

 hensive thought prior to their embodiment in permanent form. 

 Already some revision of minor features is taking place, and 

 there is every promise that this opportunity for temporary model- 

 ling in actual positions, will mean much in the perfecting of the 

 design. My principal hope is that it will mean the revision oi 

 the work beneath the main eaves in the direction stated, even 

 at the expense of the loss of moulded stonework at this point. 



Summarising the design elevationally, it would appear that 

 some more dominant feature than has been provided for is 

 essential to pull the exceptional stretch of roof-surface together. 

 It must be remembered, however, that owing to the site occupied, 

 for all practical purposes from wherever seen, the horizontality 

 of roof-surface will be lost. The curvature of the central block 

 will present a great catenary dip into the Kop's side ; and this, 

 with the end pavilion bays, by reason of their projection and 

 ■consequent hipping, will mean the breaking of the visible surface 

 vertically as well as horizontally. At comparatively near dis- 

 tance, and particularly as viewed from the axial line, either from 

 the summit of the Kop or from southwards, the foregoing fea- 

 tures, allied with the twin towers, will accentuate the strength of 

 simplicity, and result in a sky-line of an exceptionally bold order. 



In matter of detail there is also very full evidence of much 

 devoted attention. The results, however, are quite a psycho- 

 logical study. For instance, in one direction is to be found the 

 most restrained relieving- of surface, as in the pedimenting of 

 four window heads of the southern front ; a studied reticence that 

 gives just the touch of beauty to sternness, as in the bracketting 

 of balconettes ; while in another direction poetic fancy seems 

 rather to have outrun itself, in the shaping of the tops of the key- 

 stones, g-argoyled outlets, and bits of tiled weathering on moulded 

 stonework. 



Internally there is also much of the same dual exhibition of 

 restraint and revelry, and in the latter direction the impress of 

 the architect's partiality for the early art of Cape Colony 

 forcibly abounds, perhaps most strikingly in the lantern treat- 

 ment of the fanlights of the principal doorways. On the other 

 hand, hardly any plate-glass enters into the scheme. 



Indeed, both the ardent enthusiast of plainness and the lover 

 of minutiae will find over these great stretches of wall-surface 

 and floor area a considerable amount of satisfying detail- 



And it is specially gratifying to all who take an interest in 

 artistic expression to note that the art of sculpture is to be 

 afforded worthy representation in niched recesses (externally and 

 internally), courts, amphitheatre, and tower heights, — a sum of 

 ;)C20,ooo being earmarked in the present contracts towards this 

 purpose. 



Then, I think some information as to the preparatory work 

 involved in this great scheme, as well as some material facts in 

 regard to its bulk and scope, will not be without interest. 



