GENEEAL PRINCTPLES. 16 



18. The principal disadvantage of a square house, is, that it is said, by some 

 architects, to afford less architectural beauty than any other form, from the 

 sameness of the general shape ; but this is partly a mistake, and is chiefly 

 believed to be true by such as consider variety to be one of the main beauties 

 of architecture. Now, our opinion is that variety, however prominent a 

 beauty it may be in landscape, is only a subordinate one in architecture ; 

 and that the grand characteristic beauties of that art are magnitude and 

 symmetry. We would not exclude variety ; on the contrary, we would 

 produce it to as great an extent in the details as was consistent with symme- 

 try ; and, of any two buildings equal in magnitude and symmetry, we should 

 say that the one which possessed the greater amoimt of variety was the most 

 beautiful. Two great beauties in architecture, and without which an edifice 

 can hardly merit to be called architectural, are the appearances of solidity 

 and of magnitude. Now, no form whatever gives the appearance of solidity 

 to so great an extent, in proportion to the quantity of matter employed, as 

 the square or the circular form. Both these forms are equal in point of 

 solidity ; but the square (the quantity of matter being the same) has greatly 

 the advantage in point of magnitude, by presenting, especially when two 

 sides are seen at once, a much greater surface to the eye. A building in the 

 form of a parallelogram, if seen only in front, may have the appearance of 

 magnitude ; but, when one end is seen, and that is found to be narrow, the 

 impression of the want of solidity is immediately felt in a high degree, and 

 the impression of magnitude is proportionately diminished. Hence, a build- 

 ing in the form of a "parallelogram, in whichever manner it may be viewed, 

 is never so satisfactory as one in the form of a square, or cube. Now, that 

 a square, or cubic, building not only possesses, by the nature of its form, the 

 essential and fundamental architectural beauties of solidity, magnitude, 

 regularity, and symmetry, but also may be made to display the accessary 

 beauties of variety, harmony, character, and style, might be proved by 

 various examples ; but it may be sufficient here to refer to the Gothic and 

 Elizabethan mansions of former times ; the noblest of which, and those 

 which make the greatest figure in the history of our domestic architecture, 

 Avere almost always built either in squares or quadrangles, or in the form of 

 three sides of a quadrangle. 



19. In choosing a house that is irregular in the plan and elevation, there 

 are some advantages, but many disadvantages. The advantages are, that, in 

 particular situations, particular distant prospects may be better displayed ; 

 and that in all situations, even on a flat surface, a greater variety of home 

 views, that is, views within the grounds, maybe created. This, it is obvious, 

 is to be effected by placing the rooms in such a way that the principal 

 windows in them will look on the view at a right angle. The disadvantages 

 of an ii'regular house are, that it is always colder in winter, and warmer in 

 summer, than a square house, from the exterior surface of almost every 

 room being exposed to the weather on two or more sides ; whereas, in 

 a square house, only the corner rooms are exposed on more than one side. 

 The chimneys in an irregular house do not draw so well, because the gi-eater 

 part of them are in the outside walls. On account of the great surface both 

 of walls and roof, and of the greater number of gutters in the latter, it 

 is clear that ii*regular houses must cost more at first, and require more to 



