M02

Prelude: Architectural Thought in France and Britain

Introduction to Modern Architectural Theory

  • Architectural ideas evolved significantly from traditional to modern thought, especially during the 17th to 18th centuries.

French Architectural Thought

1. Claude Perrault and the French Academic Tradition

  • Start of the 17th Century: Architecture involved a divine cosmology where forms and proportions were seen as eternal truths.

  • Key Figures:

    • Jean Bautista Villalpanda: Linked architectural proportions to divine origin.

    • René Descartes: Introduced critical skepticism, promoting empirical exploration and leaving behind reverence for ancient teachings.

  • Roland Fréart de Chambray (1650): Advocated for new architectural ideas distinct from traditional forms, but many resisted this change.

2. The Reign of Louis XIV and Architectural Institutions

  • Louis XIV's ascent in 1661 led to a classical revival in France, facilitated by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, who reformed and established multiple art academies.

  • Founding of the:

    • Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture (1648)

    • Royal Academy of Architecture (1671): Aimed to standardize architectural education and practices.

  • François Blondel (1671): First director, emphasized proportions and harmony rooted in classical principles.

3. Claude Perrault and the Louvre

  • Under Colbert's influence, Perrault proposed designs for the eastern Louvre, introducing coupled columns, a departure from traditional classical designs.

  • Perrault justified his innovations by referencing ancient architectural texts, specifically Vitruvius.

4. The Quarrel of the Ancients and the Moderns

  • Perrault defended modern architectural practices against the traditional views represented by Blondel.

  • This debate highlighted a shift from absolute forms of beauty to a recognition of modern aesthetics that incorporated Gothic elements and structural efficiency.

British Architectural Theory in the 18th Century

1. The Legacy of Inigo Jones and Christopher Wren

  • Inigo Jones (1573-1652): Pioneer of the Palladian style in England. His designs like the Banqueting House exemplified classical elegance.

  • Christopher Wren (1632-1723): Transitioned to an eclectic style incorporating Gothic and Baroque elements, known for St. Paul's Cathedral.

2. The Emergence of the Picturesque

  • Aesthetic Shifts: Eighteenth-century British architecture began emphasizing the picturesque, complementing classical forms with more emotional, scenic considerations.

  • William Kent (1685-1748): Played a crucial role in developing picturesque garden designs, sympathizing with natural forms.

3. Philosophical Explorations

  • Edmund Burke's Philosophical Inquiry (1757): Distinguished the sublime from beauty, emphasizing emotional responses to architecture.

  • Hume's Treatises: Explored the relativity of taste in architecture, suggesting that beauty is subjective yet informed by training and experience.

  • Robert Adam: Advocated for a blending of classical and modern styles, often introducing innovative decorative elements termed as eclectic.

4. Notable Works and Theorists

  • Humphry Repton and Uvedale Price: Advocated for the picturesque, igniting debates on how to harmonize emotional responses with architectural expressions.

  • Knight's Analytical Inquiry: Critiqued classical rigidity and endorsed the picturesque as a triumphant blending of structural diversity and aesthetic emotion.

Conclusion

  • The shift from ancient forms of reverence to modern perspectives shaped architectural practices across France and Britain.

  • The debates over aesthetics, proportion, and the relationship of architecture to the surrounding environment highlighted a critical evolution in thought, leading up to contemporary architectural theories.