14 FEBRUARY 1857, Page 13

LONDON IMPROVEMENTS: EASTER 1X1TTBITION AT WESTMINSTER HALL.

THERE is every reason to expect that the exhibition in Westminster Hall at next Easter, of designs for the improvement of Official Westminster, will be copious, interesting, and illustrative of the work to be done. Under former administrations of our public works it has been usual to take London improvements piecemeal— to treat each building or each street as if it were the correct thing to ignore all the rest of the universe. In the present instance that routine has been abandoned. When a new Foreign Office was required, and a new building for the War Department, it was remembered that other public buildings would be desirable for other departments, and that many of our minor departments he scattered—mere lodgers in ill-constructed houses inconveniently situated; and therefore, coupled with designs for the two offices immediately required, specifications were issued inviting block plans for a concentration of the public offices on the plot of ground between St. James's Park and Westminster Hall. But since the whole of that tract was to be improved upon a progressive design, the bridge which crosses the river also came in question ; and here again it had been the custom to deal with rather a comprehensive subject entirely piecemeal. When Westminster Bridge had been patched up several times it was found necessary to rebuild it; but even then the only idea was that of rebuilding, in forgetfulness of the fact that if an entirely new bridge were to be constructed, its position in reference to the other improvements of the neighbourhood, the approaches, and the altered lines of traffic, would be thrown open. If a map of the Metropolis be taken, and the linger be laid upon some central point South of the river,—for example, at the grand crossing of many highways by the Elephant and Castle,—it would be found that a direct line to the North-west of the Metropolis, Piccadilly, and Hyde Park Corner, would cross somewhere near Whitehall ; while the present line necessitates a considerable detour ; directly leading nowhere; save into the comparatively exclusive grounds of St. James's Park. Again, the bed of the river has materially altered since it was last surveyed by Mr. Telford in 1826—thirty years ago ; and the comparison of the two surveys would probably suggest permanent laws of progressive change -highly instructive in reference to the site and design of the new bridge. It has been found that the recommencement of Westminster Bridge on the old site is not of a character which promises a durable building. The whole subject, therefore, is again thrown open from the very foundation, and the bridge question has been taken into consideration with the general design. Sir Benjamin Hall stated in the House of Commons on Monday-, that 1791 specifications have been issued from the office of Public Works. The larger number of these appear to have been issued upon written or personal applications, and immense numbers have been sent abroad. They have gone to France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, and even to the United States ; they have in fact been demanded by the architects of the world ; and the designs for the progressive improvement of Official Westminster will be obtained from the flower of the whole cosmopolitan architectural community. The specifications and specimendraughts of the design occupy a very considerable space. We may anticipate that perhaps more than a thousand sets of designs will be sent in, with a large number of solid models. They will therefore cover an immense extent of wall and flooring space ; and our difficulty is to comprehend how the whole of these drawings and models can be exhibited within the space of Westminster Hall, even by aid of screens and other appliances such as we saw for the frescoes of the Parliament Palace. Probably some addi tional building in the neighbourhood will be required as a supplemental exhibition-room. Of course the quality of the designs will present every variety and grade : we may anticipate some below mediocrity ; some perhaps graceful enough but not applicable to the opportunities or requirements of the place ; but a considerable number will be such as to do credit to the various countries from which they come. It is probable that the choice will be rendered difficult less by meagreness of materials than by an emberras de riehesses.

The course thus carried out will have the effect of referring the question to the proper authorities for deciding it. Although there s been considerable diligence in the distribution of the speci

fications, it cannot be said that there is any hurry. There is no attempt to "manage" the completion of a job in the disguise of an open competition. The preparations for the improvement of Westminster are laid open to Westminster, to the Parliament, to the whole public of the empire ; for unquestionably the exhibition in Westminster Mal will be visited by a large section of the entire population. The officials, the Members of both Houses, the public, the architectural profession, the intellect and taste of the country, will all have the opportunity of surveying the designs, of comparing them, and of deliberately though perhaps not slowly developing a real public opinion. Of course it will require some ability, and perhaps some resolution, to pluck the flower of public opinion from the roots on which it grows ; but if there be at the time of maturity a Minister in office capable of collecting the suffrages of the public, professional or unprofessional, we must arrive at a correct settlement of the many questions involved, with solid guarantees for the honest execution of the necessary work. The official centre of the empire will be such as the deliberate opinion of the empire will dictate. The principal West-end bridge across the Thames will be placed where the principal West-end traffic requires it—a supplemental bridge, if necessary, for the Ultra-West-end traffic. The whole subject is openly referred, and will be openly judged; and the public will have the opportunity of watching the execution at every stage.