Brexton Renaissance

Charles Emmett Cassell, Architect of the Brexton

Talks with architects, 6/11/1893, Sunday Baltimore Herald

Charles E. Cassell.

The tendecy at present seems undoubtedly to be toward the style of the Italian Renaissance throughout the country, and of late years there have been many buildings here in Baltimore constructed on this plan. There has also been a leaning toward the French Renaissance in architecture, and the Romanesque also has its followers. The classic models appear to be more closely followed than others and are always popular.

The original styles were the Ionic, Doric, Composite, Tuscan and Corinthian, of which the Capitol at Washington is a fine example. The Treasury Building there is constructed on the Doric plan, and is a striking object of that model. The Italian Renaissance style of buildings can admit of such materials as stone, brick, terra cotta and others. Many of our residences now are built according to this, and it bids fair to become the leading mode.

Sometime ago the so-called Queen Anne and Elizabethan styles were a 'fad,' as it were. This was simply the fact because one of the most prominent architects in England, who was very original and capable of introducing new ideas in his work, introduced them, and through his instrumentality they were copied extensively. The craze soon died out, however, and is at present principally a thing of the past.

In 10 years more I do not believe that buildings will be constructed higher than six stories. There has been a reaction in this regard, and there is now a law in Chicago, I believe, to the effect that no buildings can be constructed over eight stories. The reason that edivices lately have been run up so high has been owing to the fact that space in the large cities has been limited, and in order to gain the requisite size and room.

Our country residences have become the models for those of foreign countries, and much has been written that has been very favorable to American architects. This has been the case particularly in England, where the residences have been very highly commended by some of the most eminent authorities. Indeed, some of them advise their young men to come over to this country and study our styles as regards these dwellings. I hardly know to what style they may be said to belong, for they are varied. Yet there is no doubt they are remarkably well designed.

Much more attention is paid nowadays to architecture as a profession than was formerly the case. At present an architect has entire control form the first conception of a building until its completion. Generally a pencil sketch of the ground floor is submitted to a person who wishes to build a house. Frequently even the style of the intended dwelling is left to the architect's discretion. The builder gives his idea as to the size and number of the rooms, &c., but everything else is left to the architect himself.