THROUGH THE ARCHIVE: From the News Letter of January 1941
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During this week in 1941 a correspondent to the News Letter who signed their letter H A R wrote to the paper criticising plans to erect trolleybus wires and stanchions at Stormont.
They wrote: “The proposal to erect trolleybus wires and stanchions along the side approach to the Parliament Buildings will certainly add to and enhance the general beauty of the site no end. When viewed from the gates the effect of them twisting and twining round the corners as they tortuously make their way to the top, will be monumental and positively charming. No doubt the bases of the stanchions will be proudly embossed with the arms of the Corporation and the year of their erection to mark a great achievement.
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Hide Ad“Where else in the world would such a scheme be sanctioned? Our capital has the reputation of being the ugliest in Europe, a reputation which is amply justified, and which the Corporation would seem proud to further. So march on Belfast! Rear up your temples of ugliness. Yours is a city of darkness!
“But destructive criticism alone cannot help beyond a point. How then, are we to drag ourselves out of this awful mire beastliness? The answer it quite simple. Competitions, organised on RIBA rules, should be run for all the larger buildings, as in Liverpool, and most other cities of today, a panel of architects should be set up in Belfast, with full powers of veto, to whom all building schemes must be submitted for approval. The panel should be composed of men qualified from one of the first rate architectural schools, where men are trained not only to build well, but to build beautifully. By these means, and these alone, can a good standard of aesthetic building be set up.”
The letter concluded: “Finally, lest I appear too disparaging; Belfast docs possess some buildings worthy of the name: the Law Courts, the City Hall, the new BBC Building, the Customs House, and the Grove School, and one or two others.”
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