Section J. 



(ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING.) 

 Pkesident of the Section — John Suljian, F.R.I.B.A. 



ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT. 

 The Architecture of Toivns. 



Every one has heard of Nuremberg — that quaint old German 

 city, famed in art and song — and may possess some vague idea 

 that it is one of the many picturesque survivals of the Middle 

 Ages in which the Fatherland is so rich. But, as a matter of 

 fact, it is perhaps in western Europe the most perfect example 

 yet remaining to us of a mediaeval town, and as such presents 

 a striking contrast to the cities of to-day. Imagine, then, a 

 narrow, swiftly - flowing river passing through the midst, 

 bridge-spanned, and even house-covered in parts. On either 

 hand pile up the houses in apparently the wildest confusion, 

 with no one dwelling like its neighbour, but each as varied in 

 design and picturesque in outline as the fancy can depict. The 

 streets, with a few notable exceptions, are winding and narrow, 

 and only relieved by occasional large open spaces, near which 

 tower up the churches and other public buildings. And then 

 surround the whole by the original wall, with its bastions and 

 gate-towers, gateways and portcullises, posterns and ditch, 

 and you have a faint idea of what Nuremberg is like. A walk 

 through its streets, notwithstanding the tide of modern life in 

 full flow, carries one irresistibly back to the past, and it is easy 

 to people them with the sturdy burghers in doublet and hose, 

 the strings of packhorses arriving and departing laden with 

 goods, and all the busy hum of outdoor life. Then, every 

 citizen carried on his business in the lower floors of his own 

 house, and stored his goods in the high-pitched and dormer- 

 lighted roofs, of which so many still remain, with their project- 

 ing beams and pulleys. Little space was wasted, for land 

 within the walls in the city's palmy days was valuable ; and so 

 we find odd corners utilised, narrow lanes spanned, and every 



