Christopher James Yorath (1879–1932)
Entry 64
Acton, London West, England
Yorath studied engineering at the University of Wales, Cardiff, then
worked on municipal engineering projects. By 1913 he was Deputy Engineer
to the
Acton Borough Engineer. He moved to Canada, and from 1913 to 1921 was Commissioner
of Public Works for the City of Saskatoon, in Saskatchewan. In 1921 he
became Commissioner in Edmonton, Alberta.
This plan employs rigid geometry in the form of concentric squares.
The houses of parliament are set in the middle of two concentric circles,
with
major federal buildings around the circle. There are rectangular ranges
of ‘Commercial’, and ‘First, Second and Third Class
Residential’ blocks
to the northwest. A circular lake interrupts the rectangular scheme
on the southeast side. Appealing as an abstract composition, this design
is
impractical as a city plan.
|
