Editorial Comment

The idea of an Architects’ Defence Union originated with Mr. E. M. Wimperis, F.R.I.B.A., who submitted it to the Practice Standing Committee of the R.I.B.A. in 1913. Subsequent events and their consequences hindered progress for some years, but the idea remained and was taken up afresh in. 1925 when a scheme for the formation of a Defence Union distinct from the R.I.B.A. or any other professional body was formulated by the Practice Standing Committee and approved by the Council of the R.I.B.A. On October 18, 1926, at an open meeting of architects and surveyors the scheme was adopted, and the acting Committee was authorised to extend its scope and to complete arrangements with the Cornhill Insurance Co., Ltd., for the issue of an insurance policy covering the protection proposed to be given to its members by the Union.

IN the last article of this series I depicted a structure which, if it could be erected at all, could only come into being in a somewhat distant future. It appeared a logical procedure, however, to indicate some of the possibilities of ferro-concrete when this material is put to a supreme test. But even in this example, while ostensibly devoting myself to a problem of construction, it was incumbent upon me to envisage the social circumstance which could alone justify it. This social aspect of engineering must ever be present in the, mind of the designer. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that the neglect of it has been the principal cause of the uglification of our cities which has gradually been taking place ever since the industrial age began. Figures 12 and 13 illustrate two towns which are comparable to one another inasmuch as all the buildings, except those used for industrial purposes, are exactly the same in each. An essential difference, however, is shown in the disposal of the industrial buildings themselves, for in one example these are collected together in a factory zone separated from the built-up portion of the town by a belt of trees, while in the other the factory buildings are scattered about wherever possible sites presented themselves. It will be observed that even open spaces, the enclosure of public squares, have been sold by the ground landlord for industrial purposes, while at the backs of the houses also space which originally was devoted to yards or gardens has been given up to tall factory blocks, designed without any regard to their architectural neighbours. A. Trystan Edwards

The scheme for the Channel Tunnel raises the four following problems :- l. A geological problem. 2. A technical problem concerning the boring of the Tunnel and the working of the railway which will be installed in it. 3. A financial problem. 4. A legislative, administrative and diplomatic problem. Mons. Yves Le Troquer