Other

Magic Square

Inscription

16, 3, 2, 13
5, 10, 11, 8
9, 6, 7, 12
4, 15, 14, 1 

Site: Magic Square (1 memorial)

WC1, John Street, 21, Haines House

Not your standard Bloomsbury terrace, this Art Deco development has always interested us but now it's got us really puzzled. We've noticed that one of the floozies up the top of the pillars is holding a 4 x 4 magic square. At the Wikipedia entry for these things we learn that our magic square is known as the 'Chautisa Yantra'. There are many different types and the explanation of how to construct a magic square "of doubly even order" rather lost us, but we are sure you will have no trouble. There's one on the Sagrada Família and Albrecht Durer included one in an engraving, but we don't know why there is one on this Bloomsbury building.
Haines House was built in 1938 as Mytre House and was a speculative development, so the first occupants, Linotype & Machinery Ltd, are unlikely to have had any influence on the design. Its listing entry says "sculptural embellishment: two engaged pylons with sculpted tops flanking the main entrance" and gives some information about the architect, Denis Edmund Harrington, but nothing that explains the magic square. Two other bits of info: the lady atop the other pylon is holding an hour-glass. In her other hand our lady is holding an astrolabe, an astronomical instrument (thanks to Rocker Ages for identifying this object). We've loaded three more pictures on our Facebook page. We asked Discovering London, who seems a well-informed chap, but he's stumped as well. Looking for connections between magic squares and astrolabes we found ourselves on a feng shui site and decided to abandon the search. They are both ancient ideas with roots in Arabia but we are no closer to explaining why they are here.

2014: Ornamental Passions reached this building. Now, we thought, we will get an answer, but OP, while addressing the question, doesn't solve it either.

2025: We've found another magic square in London - see Ernest Gillick.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

Nearby Memorials

Blackfriars sundial

Blackfriars sundial

EC4, Riverside walk, City of London Boys School

Can we guess what 'building products' Ibstock contributed, and how many? Difficult.

1 subject commemorated, 7 creators
Ian Stuart

Ian Stuart

WC2, Argyle Square, middle of the west side of the square

We don't know what the red symbols mean (born and died?) but we do recognise the symbol between the dates. Stephen Brasher wrote to say ...

1 subject commemorated
Dr John Lettsom's house

Dr John Lettsom's house

NW1, Outer Circle, Royal College of Physicians

Sorry about the rubbish picture but this item is hidden away at the edge of the property, behind a car-park. Note: the house was at Grov...

3 subjects commemorated
Streatham Street model houses

Streatham Street model houses

WC1, Streatham Street, Parnell House

There is no plaque (2022) but this is any important building so we decided to collect it. Originally called 'Streatham Street Buildings'...

maypole riot

maypole riot

EC3, St Mary Axe

The only reference we can find to "Shaft's Stairs" concerns a 1970 Civic Trust Award "given to a development bounded by Leadenhall Street...

1 subject commemorated

Previously viewed

Roy Strasburger

Roy Strasburger

"Roy Strasburger is an expert in convenience retailing and a thought leader in the retail industry. He is a frequent columnist, conference presenter, and webinar and podcast participant." Educated...

Person, Benefactor, Politics & Administration, USA

1 memorial
Embassy of the United States

Embassy of the United States

The first US Minister to the Court of St James, John Adams, rented No 9 Grosvenor Square in 1785. After that the American Embassy in London was situated variously in Great Cumberland Place, Piccadi...

Group, Politics & Administration, USA

3 memorials