Architect of the City of Paris
Encyclopedia
The Architect of the City of Paris (Architecte de la ville de Paris) is a municipal position, responsible for the design and construction of civic projects in Paris, France.
In the Ancien Régime in France
, the position of Bâtiments du Roi
oversaw the construction and maintenance of the King's properties in and around Paris. This position lasted from 1620 through 1789. The Architect's position, accountable to the municipal government, was established after the French Revolution
.
Most if not all of Paris's official architects were drawn from the graduates of the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
. Multiple architects may hold the title at any one time. Through the early 1900s the duties encompassed what would today be considered a mix of architecture, urban planning
, civil engineering
, historic preservation
, and traffic management
-- for instance, during his tenure in 1907, Eugene Henard developed the first modern roundabout
in France at the Place de l'Etoile
.
In the Ancien Régime in France
Ancien Régime in France
The Ancien Régime refers primarily to the aristocratic, social and political system established in France from the 15th century to the 18th century under the late Valois and Bourbon dynasties...
, the position of Bâtiments du Roi
Bâtiments du Roi
The Bâtiments du Roi was a division of Department of the household of the Kings of France in France under the Ancien Régime. It was responsible for building works at the King's residences in and around Paris.-History:...
oversaw the construction and maintenance of the King's properties in and around Paris. This position lasted from 1620 through 1789. The Architect's position, accountable to the municipal government, was established after the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
Most if not all of Paris's official architects were drawn from the graduates of the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
. Multiple architects may hold the title at any one time. Through the early 1900s the duties encompassed what would today be considered a mix of architecture, urban planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
, civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
, historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
, and traffic management
Traffic management
Traffic management may refer to* Bandwidth management in computer networkingRoad traffic management in road transport* In combination with "policies", a black box of governmental or commercial policies...
-- for instance, during his tenure in 1907, Eugene Henard developed the first modern roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
in France at the Place de l'Etoile
Place de l'Étoile
The Place Charles de Gaulle, , historically known as the Place de l'Étoile , is a large road junction in Paris, France, the meeting point of twelve straight avenues including the Champs-Élysées which continues to the east. It was renamed in 1970 following the death of General and President Charles...
.
Architects of the City of Paris
- Bernard Poyet, circa 1791
- Étienne-Hippolyte GoddeÉtienne-Hippolyte GoddeÉtienne-Hippolyte Godde was a French neoclassic architect.Born in Breteuil, Oise, educated at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, and Architect of the City of Paris from 1813 to 1830, Godde designed some thirty religious buildings, six public buildings, and numerous other structures. ...
, 1818-1830 - Napoléon Alexandre Roger, 1833-1872
- Émile GilbertÉmile GilbertÉmile-Jacques Gilbert was a French architect.In 1838 Gilbert was commissioned to reconstruct the hospital for the insane at Charenton along modern more humane lines recommended by Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol; the new structure was completed in 1845...
, circa 1845 - Victor BaltardVictor BaltardVictor Baltard , French architect, who was born in Paris, son of architect Louis Baltard.Until 1833, Baltard studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, where he garnered the Prix de Rome for designing a military school in 1833...
, circa 1849 - Léon Ginain, circa 1860
- Alfred-Philibert AldropheAlfred-Philibert AldropheAlfred-Philibert Aldrophe was a French architect.-Biography:Born in Paris, he worked on the Great Exhibitions held in the city in 1855 and 1867. As the architect of the Consistory of Paris, in 1867 he began construction of the Grand Synagogue of Paris which opened in 1874, and became available...
, circa 1874 - Louis Bonnier, circa 1884
- Eugene Henard, circa 1906-07
- Léon Azéma, circa 1928
- Joseph Auguste Émile VaudremerJoseph Auguste Émile VaudremerJoseph Auguste Émile Vaudremer was a French architect. He won the prix de Rome and designed several public buildings in France, particularly in Paris.-Life:...
- Henri Gautruche