Tuesday 29 April 2008

65 Vincent Square

65 Vincent Square, Westminster, is a Mies-inspired office block built 1958-60 by A.V.Farrier and recently restored. Being Mies-inspired, the facade is all thin vertical sections with bright blue ceramic panels between. It is all very plain and formfollowsfunctional. But a little carved panel above the door lends genuine delight, simply by being something Mies would have disapproved of. It shows a Roman homestead with farmers hoiking great big jars about, fruit trees behind being picked by a buxom Roman nudist fruit-picker, and a woman seated on a throne inspecting a chicken. Below her, a basket of eggs. The motto reads Deus hanc domum secundet, which I think means 'God be in this house' but if anyone knows better, tell me.

3 comments:

Conrad H. Roth said...

God favours this house.

Conrad H. Roth said...

Whoops, I meant, "Let God favour this house".

Chris Partridge said...

Thanks Conrad!
That makes it clearer. I hate that fact that Latin leaves so much implicit, although it does make it more concise.