Catalogue Details

Michael Rosenauer, architect (1884-1971)
Perspective of 49-51 New Bond Street for Chappells & Co. Limited, London 1965. Drawn for the architect by Peter Sainsbury.

Pencil, watercolours & gouache
Signed: Peter Sainsbury
Inscribed: Chappell & Co. Ltd, New Bond Street, London W1 / Michael Rosenauer FRIBA AIA
20 x 26 inches (50.8 x 66 cms)

This is a wonderful image of the colourful sixties in London architecture. The international music store, Chappells & Co opened their new premises in fashionable New Bond Street and beckoned the smart shoppers gliding between the exclusive international couturiers to be found on either side and across the way. This picture is smart sixties London. Rosenauer's design is an essay in restrained classicism where the architecture allows the purpose of the building to shine - in this case to 'sing with trumpets and cymbals'. The smooth wall surfaces are punctuated by a rhythm of 3 groups of windows on each floor, running like stave lines accross the facade, while the shoppers play at street level like crotchets and quavers enlivening the music. The sculpture shown at first floor level is by Gilbert (grandson of the famous sculptor of 'Eros') It was commissioned for the building by the architect Rosenauer and is intended to convey the idea of sound and music.

Michael Rosenauer studied architecture at the University in Vienna with Carl Konig. Otto Wagner, Josef Hoffmann and Josef Olbrich were his contemporaries. He was invited to England in 1928 by Raymond Unwin to advise the Ministry of Health on slum clearance schemes and large-scale housing developments in London. He designed a number of prestigious blocks of flats in London such as Arlington House, Kingston House and Troy Court.In the 1940's he was invited to the USA as consultant to the US Housing Authority and became involved with city planning. He worked abroad generally and again in London in the l950's notably designing the (now listed) Time & Life Building, The Westbury Hotel, The Carlton Tower Hotel and the Four Seasons Hotel.