1898 - Architecture, Real Estate

Architecture, Real Estate

British Columbia's Legislative Building opens at Victoria February 10. English-born architect Francis M. Rattenbury, 30, arrived at Vancouver in 1891, received the commission to design the structure after living in British Columbia for only 1 month, and has received $44,304 for his romanesque design.

Chicago's Gage building on South Michigan Avenue is completed by Holabird and Roche.

New York's Condict building is completed at 65 Bleecker Street for Silas Alden Condict. Designed by Chicago architect Louis H. Sullivan, the radical structure will later be called the Bayard building.

Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza is graced with an 80-foot-high arch designed by architect John Duncan to commemorate Union Army forces in the Civil War. Stanford White creates four tall Doric columns to mark the entrance to Prospect Park, and sculptor Frederick MacMonnies works on a statue of Victory in a two-wheeled chariot drawn by four horses abreast to surmount Duncan's triumphal arch.

Claridge's Hotel opens in London's Brook Street, where it has been rebuilt on a site occupied by an earlier hotel that operated under the name Claridge's for half a century (see 1894). Owner Richard D'Oyly Carte has turned it into a nine-story building with electric lights, lifts, 209 apartments, each with private bath, and 57 suites. A staff of more than 500 serves Claridge's guests. D'Oyly Carte buys the Berkeley Hotel in Piccadilly in order to obtain the services of George Reeve-Smith, who succeeds César Ritz as managing director of London's Savoy.

The Paris Ritz opens June 5 in a 17th-century townhouse in the Place Vendôme. César Ritz has found that the duc de Lauzun's property was for sale, he has suggested the name "Grand Marnier" to London liqueur maker Marnier La Postolle for La Postolle's orange-flavored cordial, La Postolle has given him funds to buy the townhouse, and Ritz opens the new hotel with 170 guest rooms, the world's first hotel to have a private toilet and bath for every room; Auguste Escoffier of 1894 Pèche Melba fame is maître chef de cuisine (see London Ritz, 1902).

Architect Charles Garnier dies at his native Paris August 3 at age 72.