The New Bodleian Library Conservation Plan - Central ...

3.5 Architectural Significance3.5.1 Sir Giles Gilbert ScottSir Giles Gilbert Scott’s design for the New Bodleian Library has a very distinctivestyle which employs both historic and modern architectural elements. The designdetails were used in an attempt to create a stylised building which draws from itssurroundings, wherein the Classical idiom is predominant but a modern design couldalso be applied. This has at times been criticised as neither being of one style nor theother, and the use of rubble stone was also not considered appropriate for the setting.The unusual design of the New Bodleian is, however, very distinctive and wasdescribed by contemporaries as expressive of a particular approach: ‘Consideredgenerally, the building is representative of the characteristically English school whichcontrives to make the best of both worlds, functional and neo-classical.’ 4 Scott’seclectic amalgamation of historic and modern can be seen as a prime example of thetransition of architecturalstyles between the twoWorld Wars, or as abacklash to the overly plainform of Bauhaus modernismwhich was emerging inEurope at the time.Figure 8. Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1933 (aged53)Sir Giles Gilbert Scott isnow considered one of thegreat architects of his timeand not just the last of a longline of remarkable architects.His work combines historicdetails of both the Classicaland Gothic styles, intobuilding designs that areessentially functional, suchas the Battersea andBankside power stations andthe Cambridge UniversityLibrary. He remainedthroughout his career anarchitect wedded to the‘middle line’: the synthesisof historic style with modernbuilding techniques andfunctional design. He is, however, possibly most well known for the reconstruction ofthe House of Commons after it was bombed during World War II. Here Scott carriedout the rebuilding in an entirely traditional style.4 The Architect and Building News, 1936.New Bodleian LibraryConservation Plan, April 201219