Fr"n"l, E"l;Eht"nment

Aolrit"r*rrc ond
Itr l*go"y
 "I forrrd Sg*b"li, Spo", to be
informative, interestirg,
"rd
frll
of ,"* insigLts. Etltr *iJens tlre
borrd" b.t-""n th" a"chitecbure of
tlre late eigLteenth century anJ
tL"t .r[t[te twentieth to incluJe
*rr"1, *"ll-hro*, figrt"* t*
L" Co"trsi"n Ftark LloyJ
Vright, *rrd P*rl Cret. H" kt*
written a, *Jr.ri.atle-not to say
awesome- piece of *"hol""*hip
tkat *ill prove stirnulatinP and
provocative to the
"".J"t"
_RAND CARTER,
H"n iko, Coll"g.

ISBN 0-eah-aP08q-a

it ur fliltti
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$A4BOLIC
SPACE.
French Enlightenment
Architecture
and lts Legaq
 University of
professor in the School of Architecture'
NCHARD A. ETLIN is a of the
Marvland. He is rhe
i'i""uo of Death: TtuTraruformation
""th5;;i;; Inkan Archiuaure' 1890-
Mod'ttnism in
in Eightemth-Cm'i*ii'at OgA\: (1994) '
C,emetsr't
1940 (issl); *a r,onn iltlit'igi' * Corbusin: The Rtmantic l-cgaer
'"a'

Chicago 6!637
The University of Chicago Press'
The Universiry of Chicago Press' Ltd" London
O 1994 by The UniversitY of Cfila.So
All .igho'..."rved' Published 1994
p.l"tEa in the United States of America
oa oz or 00 99 98 97 96 95
94 123 45

ISBN: 0-22G220842 (cloth)

Data
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication

Etlin, Richard A' architecture and its legacy

Symbolic sPace : French Enlightenment
,/ Richard A. Etlin'
P. cm. index'
Iril..d., bibliographical references and 2' Architecture'
i. t'l.o.tu.ri.ls'i 1'Ltr'itettt're)-France'
3' Signs and symbols in
-
Modern-17th-rSth1;ries-France' (Architecture)
architecture-F ut""' 4' Neoclassicism -Influence'
I. Title.
NA1046.5.N4E84 1994 93-50194
720' .944'Og}33-dc20 CIP

meets
@ The paper used in this publication
of the American
In. *i"'i-"rn requirements
Sciences-
Nr*"rf Standari for InformationLibrary
p".-u.t"".. of Paper for Printed
Materials, ANSI 239'48-1 984'
 CONTENTS

Illustrations ix
Illustration Credits xv

Preface xvii

Acknowledgments xxiii
One

Paris: The Image of the City

Two

Revolutionary Space 30

Three

Character and Design Method 48

Fu.u
The Neoclassical Interlude 88

Five
The System of the Home 124

Six
LandscapesofEternity 148

Sanm

The Space ofAbsence 172

Notes 199
Index 223

vrr
 ILLUSTRAIIONS

1. Le Febwe, '"Triumphal bridge leading to place Louis XV [today place de

laConcordel," prixd'dmulation,May 1786. 7
2. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, Palais deJustice (project), Paris, 1780s. 16-77
3. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, Palais National (project), Paris, c. 1792. 16
4. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, Royal Library (project), Paris, 1785. 18
5. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, Opera (project), Paris, 1781. 18
6. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, "Project for a Museum at the center of which is a
Temple of Fame containing the statues of great men," 1783. 19
7. Boull6e, "Project for a Museum," section. 19
8. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, Colis6e (project), Paris. 20
9. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, cemetery project, variant I, Paris, c. 1785.
20-2t
10. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, "Project for a Public Library on the land of the
Capucines with an entrance in the form of a Temple to Apollo and with central
galleries containing the statues of great men," c. 1785. 22
11. Boull6e, Public Library (project), plan. 22
12. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, Cenotaph to Sir Isaac Newton (project), Paris,
t784. 23
13. Boull6e, Cenotaph to Newton, interior view with starlit sky created by sun
shining through openings in the dome. 23
14. Bernard Poyet, project for joining the Louwe to the Tuileries Palace,
March 1790. 32
15. Festival pavilion built along the contours of the former Bastille, July
1790. 38
16. F€te de la F6d6ration, Lyons, May 30, 1790. 40
17. Claude-Louis Chatelet, Le Rochn, Folin Sainte-larus, Neui.ily. 4l
18. Adalberto Libera and Antonio Valente, "Mart)T 's Shrine," Exhibition of
the Fascist Revolution, Rome, 1932. From Dino Alfieri and Guido Freddi, Mostra
iklla Riuoluzione Fascista. 1" Decennalz della Marcia su Roma (Rome: Partito Nazio-
nale Fascista, 1933). 46
19. J.-.N.-L. Durand, The "parts" of architectural composition: stairs. 50
20. J.-.N.-L. Durand, The "parts" of architectural composition: foyers.
50
21. J.-.N.-L. Durand, The "parts" of architectural composition: rooms.
51
22. J.-.N.-L. Durand, The "pars" of architectural composition: galcries.
51
23. J.-.N.-L. Durand, principles of architectural composition. 53

rx
 ILLUSTRATIONS

24. Patl Philippe cret, sketch from course on architectural form, university
of pennsylvania, c. 1910. Uppnltfi:J.-N.-L. Durand andJean-Thomas Thibault,
temple d6cadaire (project), 1802, plan. Lowerlzfi: Louis-Sylvestre Gasse, Elysium
or Public Cemetery, elevation and section through central chapel. Fitst Grand,
Prixof 1799. Lowerright: C. Gay, Cenotaph to Sir Isaac Newton, sectiorl, ptix
d.'funul,ation,l8O0. 56
25. Paul Philippe crer, Pan American union (today organization of Ameri-
can States), Washington, D'C., 1907. Front elevation. 57
26. Cret, Pan American Union, first-floor plan. From Edward Warren Hoak
and Willis Humphry Church, Martnpi.eces of Architecture in the United Stales (New
York,1930.) 58
27. Cret, Pan American Union, second-floor plan. From Edward Warren
Hoak and Willis Humphry Church, MastnPieca of Architecture in the United States
(New York, 1930.) 59
28. Cret, Pan American Union, central patio. From Edward Warren Hoak
and willis Humphry church, Masterpieces of Architecture in the unitetl slatas (New
York,1930.) 60
29. Edward Pearce Casey and Arthur Dillon, Pan American Union, competi-
tion design, 1907, plan. 61
30. Cret, Pan American Union, Iongitudinal section. From Edward Warren
Hoak and willis Humphry church, Masterpieces of Architecture i,n the united, states
(New York, 1930.) 62
31. Cret, Pan American Union, Hall of Flags. From Edward Warren Hoak
and Willis Humphry Church, Masterpieus of ArchiteAure in the United Statas (New
York,1930.) 63
32. Paul Philippe Cret, Indianapolis Public Ubrary, 1914. From Theo B'
White, Prru,l Philippe Cret, Architect and Tbacher (Philadelphia, 1973) . 65
33. Cret, Indianapolis Public Library, competition plan. 66
34. Cret,Indianapolis Public Library, delivery room- From Theo B' White'
Paul Phi.kppe Cret, Architect and Tbacher (Philadelphia , 1973) . 67
35. Jean-Nicolas Sobre, library. Competition entry for the prix d'dmulnti'on,
November 1787. 68
36. Alexandre-Jean-Baptiste4uy de Gisors, BibliothEque Nationale (proj-
ect), Paris, using the unfinished Church of the Madeleine as the foundations for
the design. Section. Year\rIII [1799-1800]. 69
37. Paul Philippe Cret, Union Building, University of Texas at Austin, 1931,
lobby. 72
38. Paul Philippe Cret, Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C" 1928-
1932, plan. From Theo B. White, Paul Phikffe cret, Architea anil Teacher (Philadel-
phia,1973). 74
39. Cret, Folger Shakespeare Library, Exhibition Gallery' From Theo B'
White, Paul Phikppe Cret, Architect and, Tbacher (Philadelphia,7973). 75
40. Paul Philippe Cret, Detroit Institute of Arts, project of December
1920. 77
 ILLUSTRATIONS

41. Cret, Detroit Institute of Ars, project of December 1920, .main floor
plan." 78
42. Cret, Detroit Institute of Arts, project of December 1g20, section. 7g
43. Cret, Detroit Institute of Arts, project of December 1920, "the
garden." 79
44. Paul Philippe cret with zantzinger, Borie and Medary, Detroit Instirute
of Ars,
1920-1927, entrance vestibule looking toward the main hall, followed by
the interior garden. From
The Detroit Institute of Arts: The Architecture (Detroit,
1928). 80
45. Cret with Za,,l.,i'rger, Borie and Medary, Detroit Institute of .Arts, garden
court with pool. From The Detroit Institute of Arts: The Archi,tecture (Detroit, lg2g).
81
46. Paul Philippe Cret, Federal Reserve Board Building, Washingron, D.C.,
1935. From Amsrican Architect and Architzcture (Decernber 1987). 82
47. cret, Federal Reserve Board Building, plans. From AmericanArchitectand
Architecture (December 1937). 83
48. Cret, Federal Reserve Board Building, great hall. 83
49. Cret, Federal Reserve Board Building, foyer to the Board Room. From
American Architect and Architecture (December 1937). 84
50. Abb6 Marc-Antoine Laugier, the "rustic hut." Frontispiece to Essai sur
l'architecture, 2d ed. (Paris, 1755) . Drawing by Charles Eisen. 93
51. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, Metropolitan Church (project), lTgl_1792.
97
52. Boull6e, Metropolitan Church (project), plan. 98
53. Boull6e, Metropolitan Church (project). 99
54. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, cemetery project, variant II, entrance pavilion,
Paris, c. 1785. 100
55. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, cemetery project, variant III, paris, c. 1785, the
central chapel. 100
56. Julien-David Leroy, history of religious architecrure, showing irs histor!
cal, progressive development. From Histoire de la d,isposition des fmmes differmtes
que bs chri4tiens ont donnia d, lturs ternplzs depui; Constantin le Grand jusqud, nuts
(Paris,1764). 103
57. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, Temple to Nature, c. 1793. lO7
58. Boull6e, Temple to Nature, section, c. 1793. 107
59. Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, entrance building, saltworks of Chaux. From
L'Architecture consid,hie sous le rappart de l'art, des mozurs et d,e la ligislation (1804).
110
60. Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, housg and workshop for the agricultural guards
(project). From L'Architecture considuhie sru.s lz rappmt dz l'art, des mozurs et dc ln
ligislntion (1847 ed.). 111
61. Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, house and workshop for the guards of the river
Loue (project). From L'Architecture considirie smts le raffort de I'art, d,es mozurs et de
la ligislation ( 1804) . 111

XI
 ILLUSTRATIONS

62. Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, house and workshop for the charcoal burners
(project). From L'Architecture mnsidfui4e sous lz rapport d,e l'art, dts moanrs et d,e ln
ligislntion(1804). 1r2
63. Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, house and workshop for the coopers (project).
From L'Architecture considfu4e sous lz rapport de l'art, des mozurs et de ln ligislation
(1804). r12
64. Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, Pacifdre (House of Reconciliation) (project).
From LArchitecture consid,trie sous l.e rappmt de l'art, des mozurs et dc ln ligislati.on
(1804). 113
65. Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, cemetery for the town of Chaux (project). Sec-
tion. From L'Architecture considirie suts b rappmt d,e l'art, des mosurs et de la lAgislation
(1804). rL4
66. Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, "Elevation of the cemetery for the town of
Chaux." From L'Architecture considhie sous lz rappmt de l'art, d,es mozurs et d,e la ligisln-
tion (1804). 114
67. Le Corbusier, 'The lesson of Rome," Vers une Architecture (1923). 115
68. Jacques-Frangois Blondel, ideal h6tel, courqard facade. From 'Abr6g6
d'architecture concernant la distribution, la d6coration, et la construction des
bitiments civils." 126
69. Blondel, ideal hitel, garden facade. From 'Abr6g6 d'architecture con-
cernant la distribution, la d6coration, et la construction des bdtiments
civils." 127
70. Blondel, ideal h6tet, first floor. From'Abr6g6 d'architecture concernant
la distribution, la d6coration, et la construction des bdtimens civils." 128
71. Blondel, id,ezl h6tel, second floor. From 'Abr6g6 d'architecture con-
cernant la distribution, la d6coration, et la construction des bitimens
civils." 729
72. Charles-Etienne Briseux, country house, second-floor plan. From tnrt
de bAilr des maisons de carnpagne, od l'on traite d,e leur distribution, dt bur construction,
et d.e bur d,icoration . . . <iZ[Z>. lZ4
73. Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, prison (unbuilt), Aix-en-Provence, c. 1785. From
L'Architecture consid,4rie su.ts b rappmt d.e l'art, d,es mozurs et de la ligislntion (1847
ed.). 136
74. Ledoux, prison (unbuilt), Aix-en-Provence, plan. From L'Architecture con-
sidirie sous b rappmt d.e l'art, d,es rnozurs et de la ligislntion (1847 ed.). 137
75. Jean-Charles Delafosse, cemerery (project), Paris, 1776. 138
76. JacquesFrangois Blondel, ideal paiish church (project), c. 1766. From
Coursd'architecture(7771-1777). 140
77. Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, church (project), Chaux. From LArchitecture con-
b rappmt dt l'art, d,a mozurs et d,e ln, ligislation (1804). 142
sid,hrfo sous
78. Ledoux, church (project), Chaux, plans ofthe sanctuary and the crypt.
From LArchitecture considirie srrus l.e rappmt de l'art, des mozurs et de ln ligislation
(1804). r43
79. Capron, cemetery (projecr), Paris, 1782. Detail of the entrance. Archives
Nationales, Paris (N III Seine 846). 151

xtr
 ILLUSTRATIONS

80. Pierre Fontaine, cemetery, Paris, second pize, Ctrand Prix of 7785.
152-t53
81. Vien, "Cenotaph in honor of the explorers who perished in the voyage
of M. de La P6rouse," first prize, prix d,'imulation, 1788. 154
82. Etienne-Louis Boull6e, "Funerary monument characterizing the genre of
an architecture ofshadows," Paris, c. 1785. 155
83. Alexander Pope, garden at Twickenham. From J. Serle, A Plnn of Mr
Pope's Gardm (London, 1745). 156
84. Stowe. View of the Elysian Fields showing the Temple of British Worthies.
From J. Seeley, Stowe: A Desription of the House and, Garilen (Buckingham,
1797). r57
85. Stowe, 1739. FromJ. Rigaud, Stoue Gard.ms in Buckinghamshire (London,
1746). 158
86. Stowe, 1774. From G.-L. Le Rouge, DAtuil d,es nm.rueaux jardins d l.a modc
(Paris,1776-1788). 159
87. Alexandre Lenoir, Elysium Garden, Mus6e des Monuments Frangais,
Paris. Painting by Hubert Robert, c. 1800. 164
88. Jacques Molinos, "Field of Rest" (unexecuted project for transforming
the quarries of Montmartre into a cemetery), Paris, 1799. 16L165
89. Molinos, mortuary depot (unexecuted), Paris, 1799. 167
90. Molinos, mortuary depot (unexecuted), Paris, 1799. 167
91. Alexandre-Th6odore Brongniart, Cemetery of Pdre Lachaise, Paris. First
project, c. 1812. 170
92. Brongniart, Cemetery of PEre Lachaise, view of the entrance and main
chapel (unexecuted), Paris. First project, c. 1812. Enlargement, showing the in-
set in figure 91. 170
93. Brongniart, Cemetery of Pdre Lachaise, view of the entrance and main
chapel (unexecuted), Paris. Second project, c. 1812. l7l
94. Friedrich Gilly, mausoleum (project), c. 1799. 174
95. Paul Philippe Cret and Thomas H. AthertonJr., Pennsylvania State War
Memorial, Varennes, France, 1924. Scheme 'A." 175
96. Paul Philippe Cret, Bushy Run Battlefield Memorial (project), 1927.
175
97. Frank Lloyd Wright, Unity Temple and Cenotaph (project), Taliesin Val-
ley (Spring Green), Wisconsin,July 1958. 176
98. Wright, Unity Temple and Cenotaph (project),July 1958, plan and ele-
vailon. III
99. Alvar Aalto, cemetery project, Lytgby, Denmark, 1952. Unbuilt competi-
tion design, site plan and sketch. 180
100. Jacques Rousseau, sepulchral chapel, section. Third prize, Grand, Prix
of 1755. 182
101. Henri Labrouste, tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte (project), competition
entry,1841. 182
102. Giuseppe Terragni, monument to Roberto Sarfatti, Col d'Echele,
1935. 184

xtII
 ILLUSTRATIONS

103. Franz Metzne4 "Entwurf fiir einen monumentalen Brunnen', (sketch

for a monumental fountain). From DerArchitekt, lg}4. lg5
104. Frank uoyd wright, "blue sky sarcophagus" or "burial terrace" for Dar-
win D. Martin (project), 1928. f g7
f 05. Giuseppe Terragni, World War I Memorial, Erba Incino (Como),
_^ l92g_
1932. 188
106. Terragni, World War I Memorial, Erba Incino (Como), detail of the
sacrarium. 188
107. Henri Labrouste, Cenotaph to La p6rouse (project), 1g30. lg0
108. Frank Lloyd Wright, Rhododendron Chapei (pioject for a memorial to
Liliane Kaufmann), Bear Run, pennsylvania, 1953. tgz
109. Wright, Rhododendron Chapel (project). lg2
110. Frank Lloyd Wright, Chapel of thi Soit (project), 1982. 193
1ll. Wright, Chapel of the Soil. lg4
112. Wright, Chapel of the Soil, sections. 194
113. Giuseppe samoni, pare,,oder Littorio, Rome, 1g34. competition entry.
Interior of the buried central "martyr's sacrarium and votive chapel.,' rg7

xlv