Post-War London

If Hitler tries hard enough, he may yet succeed in doing what Architect Sir Christopher Wren tried and failed to do nearly 300 years ago--rebuild the capital of the British Empire. To plan post-war London, Britain's Royal Academy formed in 1940 a Planning Committee consisting of 25 distinguished architects and civic leaders. The committee was headed by famed Civic-Developer Sir Charles Bressey (68) and Architect Sir Edwin Lutyens (73), designer of London's Cenotaph and Washington's British Embassy.

Last month crowds jampacked London's Royal Academy to see the results of the committee's work--50 maps, illustrations, drawings for their future London. High spots:

> Much of London's jumbled railroad system would be moved out to a ring line encircling the city. Within the ring all railroad lines would be electrified and underground. Liverpool Street, Waterloo and London Bridge stations would be moved to the ring. Euston, King's Cross, St. Pancras stations would be amalgamated. Victoria, Paddington, Marylebone would remain where they are.

> A road for royal processions would be built from Buckingham Palace to Victoria Station.

> Crowded Charing Cross Road would be crossed by a flying bridge on a broad highway leading to Piccadilly Circus, which would become rectangular.

> Covent Garden would be made a national music and drama center and banished to the outer ring road. No structures would be rebuilt around St. Paul's Cathedral.

This plan, which a London Ministry of Works official describes as "an entirely unofficial and imaginative effort," would require from 25 to 100 years to accomplish. Optimistic cockneys say it would be feasible "if Hitler had done a bit more damage." Asked the cost, Architect Lutyens replied airily: "Oh, just about what two days of war cost!" (approx. $100,000,000). Said a Royal Academy committeeman: "If you add another nought, it would be about right."

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