Englishmen have not yet become obsessed _with the sky-scraper ideal,
but there. can be no doubt that the tendency in -London and other_ big cities in the near future will be to Make buildings-constantly higher. • But how 'be sure that, if 'built; "they will be suitably diS, posed ? And upon what principles ought authority to be granted for toiVering structures so as to ensure that they will not block "or spoil views or darken streets ? The Royal Fine Art Commission has no power to command; but it is at least an advantage that.its advice and warnings should be available before it is too late. It points out that the fact that a building faces an open space is not in itself enough to justify exceptional altitude. Since the area behind it may be injured, any concessions granted should lie accompanied by some surrender of space for road widening or the provision of some other town- planning advantage. This is one among many suggestions which are made. What matters is'that the present power to restrict high building affords the means to prevent new offences against the amenities of towns, and ought to be intelligently used.
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