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THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[August, 



suits are given in explanation of the vvell-known e3ipcr.ment of t^e two me- 

 tallic discs ; and Mr. Walker shows that no lateral discharge takes place 

 between these discs, because the vicinal metal is in contact ^ylth the ower 

 disc While, therefore, the author agrees in recognising the value of light- 

 ning-rods, he has strong reason to believe that this lateral spark will occur 

 "nless proper precautions are taken; and though he differs in some degree 

 from oiheil he does so in a feeling of perfect good-fellowship, and expresses 

 a willingness to forsake his opinions whenever they are shown to be un- 

 tenable, lie states, in conclusion, that even if he is in error, still science 

 will have gained something ; for the received opinions will then have been 

 able to withstand another assault, and will only stand the firmer. 



IMPROVEMENTS IN LIVERPOOL.-ADVANCE OF ARCHITECTURE. 



It has long been a subject of regret to men of refined and cultivated 

 minds that the architecture of our towns displays a miserable degefleracy 

 from the purity of ancient taste. This degeneracy was perhaps to be ex- 

 pected The state of the fine arts is determined by laws exactly the reverse 

 of those which regulate the progress of the useful arts and mechanism. As, 

 therefore these have advanced, so has architecture declined. Elegance and 

 chastity of design have been too often sacrificed to utility and economy ; and 

 the profession of the architect, which in Fxome or Athens could claim the 

 patronage of Augustus or Pericles, has in modern times received little en- 

 conragement from the great and powerful. But within these last few years a 

 light seems to have been gradually dawning, which, we would fam hope, will 

 reflectbaci something of the splendour of ancient days. Men of rank, ol 

 education, and refined taste, have applied themselves to a study which was 

 before often deeraded by the influence of ignorance and vulgarity. Archi- 

 tecture has rapilily advanced and a pure style is taking the place of a bar- 

 barous and confused medlv of ancient and modern conceptions. 



Perhaps our town of Liverpool is the best example we can bring forward 

 to illustrate these remarks. The stranger must view with admiration, and 

 our fellow-townsmen with pride, the taste and judgment displayed in the 

 designs of many of our recent buildings. St. George's Hall and the New 

 Colkgiate Institution, for both of which we are indebted to the talent of 

 Mr Elnies, cannot receive too great commendation. 



We purpose to furnish, from time to time, notices of the principal new 

 buildings that may rise up amongst us, with a view to encourage the more 

 general cultivation of a refined taste in Architecture, and shall on the present 

 occasion commence with 



BRUNSWICK EUILDIMGS. 



We have been much struck by a visit to this structure, now nearly com- 

 pleted, in Brunswick-street, and we are sure our readers will be gratified by 

 a description of its chief characteristics. It has been constructed in the 

 palatial style of Itahan Architecture, presenting massive, unbroken facades 

 towards Brunswick and Penwick-streets ; the rusticated basement is par- 

 tially elevated above the street, and forms a substantial stylobate to the 

 superstructure. The ground story is channeled between the windows and 

 surmounted by a Doric entablature, which runs entirely round the building, 

 forming a band on which are set the windows of the first story ; these win- 

 dows are crowned with segmental pediments supported on appropriate 

 trusses, whilst those on the story above have their pediments of the usual 

 angular form. The main cornice, the most prominent feature in the design, 

 projects three feet five inches from the face of the wall, and, in addition to 

 the usual coml)ination of mouldings, has raodillions of a novel character ; a- 

 frieze below is enriched with scrolls contained within panels. The quoins at 

 each of the angles exhibit a variety in workmanship, and increase in solidity 

 as thev approach the ground. Throughout, simplicity appears to have been 

 studied, and breadth of effect has been obtained, not so much by vertical 

 breaks or superfluous ornament, as by adhering to what is termed " the hori- 

 zontal line in architecture." . 



The entrances are in Brunswick-street, and form a centre-piece of three 

 semicircular arches, filled in with bronzed perforated doors, one of which 

 leads to a handsome court-yard. This court is entirely covered with glass, 

 and artbrds light and access to the interior. The building is fitted up with 

 sets of offices, arranged so as to meet the wants of every description of 

 tenant, whose comforts appear to have been studied m every minute par- 

 ticular. , , , , , , 



The whole building is of fine free-stone— that of the ground story ot a 

 light reddish tint, and all above it of white. Viewing both fronts from the 

 opposite corner of Fenwick-street, a little higher up, it presents a very 

 beautiful and striking appearance, from its general uniformity, or strict keep- 

 ing in design, the richness of the corniciDg and mouldings, and the chaste- 

 ncss of the ornaments— none of which are superfluously introduced. The 

 groat number of windows gives it also an air of liveUness rarely attained in 

 commercial structures. Of these there are twenty-seven in three rows in the 

 facade to Fenwick-street, which is the longest ; and eighteen in that to 

 lirunswick-street, in rows of seven in the two upper stories ; and with four 

 below— two on each side the two doors, between which is a handsome per- 

 forated window, making the apertures uniform in position. The arches over 

 the doors and window between, we should add, have ornamental keystones 

 carved in classical heads in full projection. 



The covered court in the interior of the pile is an oblong square, with two 

 ranges of galleries on each side, running longitudinally, and across the north 

 end : and forming open and cheerful passages to the several oflices above. 

 These galleries are fronted with handsome massive balustrades or railings, 

 each of a different but strictly classical design. The lower portion or base- 

 ment of the immense skv-ligbt over head is of a segmental, or rather ogee 

 form ; and the centre is elevated some feet over the higher point of each 

 s°Ement, bv light frame-work, which forms a continuous range all round of 

 snTall perpendicular arched openings, affording ample ventilation. The 

 sloping glazed roof on each side and at the ends (in pavilion form) over- 

 hangs this ornamental open-work-so that the rain cannot enter excepting 

 in very high winds, and even then but slightly. There is au ornamental 

 semi-circular projection at the south end of the court-withm which is a 

 spiral additional staircase. The appearance of this court whether seen 

 from below, or from any part of the galleries, is at once novel and palatial— 

 the top resembling a 'conservatory. It is, indeed, a principal feature m 

 the building, and has already attracted the attention and admiration of 

 many visitors. The court, and the galleries, are smoothly covered with 

 aspbaltura, and the latter have numerous perforated gratings of cast-iron on 

 the same level, admitting additional light and air There '^ a range of 

 offices water-closets, &c., in the attic, all round the four sides of the base of 

 the large sky-light covering the interior square or court, with a wide passage 

 open to the' air, and fenced off, clear of the glass, by a light iron railing. 

 This passage forms a pleasing promenade. The rooms at this elevation are 

 liffhted both from the sides and by roof-lights, and a few creeping plants of 

 slender fohage trained here and there to the glass, so as to subdue and 

 mellow the light required for the rooms below, are alone wanted to give the 

 whole the appearance of a green-house surrounded by cottages. It may be 

 added that the mode of ventilation is so well contrived, that no additional 

 heat is perceptible in the area below, even while the summer sun is shiniDg 



''"Ihe interior arrangements of the building appear to be such as to ensure 

 the utmost convenience. The stairs are easy, and all the rooms well lighted 



""Thrtown is indebted to Joseph C. Ewart, Esq., for this structure. He 

 has evidently given to Messrs. Arthur and George Williams, his architects, 

 more scope than is usually granted to men of their profession on simdar 

 occasions ; and they appear to us to have displayed a rare degree of taste and 

 judgment in the design and completion of the budding, which may undoubt- 

 edly be considered an honour and an ornament to the town. It cost 

 f 13,000, and covers 835 superficial yards. 



CHAPEL-STREET. 



In Chapel Street, two fine commercial buildings are in a state of progress 

 —one nearly completed, and the other (adjoining the property of Messrs. 

 Waterhouse and Sons) raised to the plinth. The latter, at the corner of 

 Chanel Street and west corner of Old Hall Street, is of large dimensions; 

 and as it is situated immediately behind the Exchange Buildings, m the 

 centre of the commercial portion of the town, and in one of its principal 

 thoroughfares, public curiosity may be gratified by a sketch of the design. 

 We have been kindly favoured with a sight of the plans and elevations, by 

 the architect, Mr. C'ulshaw ; and the following description (drawn up on the 

 supposition that it were completed, which it will shortly be) will be found 



to he pretty accurate : — , ^ r i /r t 



The building is in the Roman style of architecture, and each facade (front- 

 ing Old Hall Street and Chapel Street, respectively) consists of an attached 

 Dilastrade of the Corinthian order, from the temple of Jupiter Stator. It u 

 mounted upon a rock- faced stylobate, crowned by a graceful attic, which dies 

 into the pediment at the end. The principal fa9ade, towards Old Hall Street 

 is pierced with six Venetian windows ; and the end front, towards Chapel 

 Street contains three similar windows. These apertures are of large dimen- 

 siors being upwards of ten feet in width, aud continued the whole height, 

 from the basement to the entablature. They are each finished with an arch 

 and an enriched key-stone, and are ornamented at the height of each floor 

 with a neat panelled entablature, supported with light iron columns of the 

 same order, set back from the face of the reveals. The spacjf between the 

 pilasters and windows are finished with sunk and channelled joints, which 

 serve for the window dressings. ,,,.,,. wu • .- 



It is to be regretted that the corner of this noble building, at the junction 

 of the two streets, is cut off at the height of the stylobate, tor the purpose of 

 public accommodation on the foot-walk ; and this renders it necessary to 

 introduce a truss to carry the angle pilaster, which produces a novel, but, we 

 think, rather deteriorating appearance. , , , ,, c 



The interior arrangements are considered well adapted for the purpose for 

 which thev 'are intended-that of brokers' offices-the apartments being 

 very roomy and well lighted.— i!>er;jooi Paper. 



FRESCO AND ENCAUSTIC PAINTING. 

 Mr. Simpson, the decorator, of West Strand, has devoted considerable at- 

 tention to the subject of fresco and encausUc painting, in «»»f'l"/»;/^ "J t''^, 

 opinions expressed in their favour by the '«'<= Committee of the House of 

 Commons, Ld the encouragement which they appear likely to meet with 

 from the present Commission. He has made several experiments on variou 

 cements for the purpose of ascertaining their fitness as grounds for orna 



