René Sergent
Encyclopedia
René Sergent (1865 - August 22, 1927) was a noted French
architect
.
, where he concentrated on French architecture of the 18th century but also studied British contemporaries such as Robert Adam
, then entered the architectural office of Ernest Sanson
where he remained for more than fifteen years.
In 1902 Sergent opened his own practice, where he undertook design or restoration for a number of wealthy and aristocratic clients including the Prince de La Tour d'Auvergne, the Comtesse de Maupeou, Comte Edmond de Fels, Comte Moïse de Camondo
, Duveen, Seligmann, Fabre-Luce, Rothschild, and Wendel. As his reputation spread, he was also asked to design buildings in the United States and Argentina for clients including Pierpont Morgan, Gould, Vanderbilt, Bosch, Alvear, and Errázuriz. His buildings were noted for their integration of modern comforts and conveniences into an imposing classical style.
Sergent also performed work on landmark hotels, including the Trianon Palace at Versailles (1910), the Savoy Hotel
and Claridge's
in London, the Grand Hotel of Rome, and Hotel Stéphanie at Baden-Baden
. In addition, he designed the headquarters for the Rolls-Royce Limited
, a Parisian store for the Duveen brothers (1907–1908) in the form of a Petit Trianon at the rear of a marble courtyard at n° 20 place Vendôme which is now a bank headquarters, and the Duveen Gallery, a large building in the style of Ange-Jacques Gabriel at the corner of 5th Avenue and 56th street in New York City
(1909–1910, demolished 1953).
In 1911 Sergent received the grande médaille de l'architecture privée from the Société centrale des architectes.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
.
Biography
Sergent was trained at the École spéciale d'architectureÉcole Spéciale d'Architecture
The École Spéciale d'Architecture is a private school for architecture at 254, boulevard Raspail in Paris, France.The school was founded in 1865 by engineer Emile Trélat as reaction against the educational monopoly of Beaux-Arts architecture...
, where he concentrated on French architecture of the 18th century but also studied British contemporaries such as Robert Adam
Robert Adam
Robert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him...
, then entered the architectural office of Ernest Sanson
Ernest Sanson
Paul Ernest Sanson was a French architect trained in the Beaux-Arts manner.Sanson entered the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris at the age of eighteen, and followed the courses offered by Émile Gilbert...
where he remained for more than fifteen years.
In 1902 Sergent opened his own practice, where he undertook design or restoration for a number of wealthy and aristocratic clients including the Prince de La Tour d'Auvergne, the Comtesse de Maupeou, Comte Edmond de Fels, Comte Moïse de Camondo
Moïse de Camondo
Count Moïse de Camondo was an Ottoman Empire born Italian origin French banker. As a child, Camondo moved with his family, from their home in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire, to Paris where he grew up and continued his father's career as a banker...
, Duveen, Seligmann, Fabre-Luce, Rothschild, and Wendel. As his reputation spread, he was also asked to design buildings in the United States and Argentina for clients including Pierpont Morgan, Gould, Vanderbilt, Bosch, Alvear, and Errázuriz. His buildings were noted for their integration of modern comforts and conveniences into an imposing classical style.
Sergent also performed work on landmark hotels, including the Trianon Palace at Versailles (1910), the Savoy Hotel
Savoy Hotel
The Savoy Hotel is a hotel located on the Strand, in the City of Westminster in central London. Built by impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas, the hotel opened on 6 August 1889. It was the first in the Savoy group of hotels and restaurants owned by...
and Claridge's
Claridge's
Claridge's is a luxury hotel in Mayfair, central London. It is located at the corner of Brook Street and Davies Street.-History:Claridge's is a traditional grand hotel. Its extensive and old connections with royalty have led to it being referred to as an "extension to Buckingham Palace"...
in London, the Grand Hotel of Rome, and Hotel Stéphanie at Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
. In addition, he designed the headquarters for the Rolls-Royce Limited
Rolls-Royce Limited
Rolls-Royce Limited was a renowned British car and, from 1914 on, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904....
, a Parisian store for the Duveen brothers (1907–1908) in the form of a Petit Trianon at the rear of a marble courtyard at n° 20 place Vendôme which is now a bank headquarters, and the Duveen Gallery, a large building in the style of Ange-Jacques Gabriel at the corner of 5th Avenue and 56th street in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(1909–1910, demolished 1953).
In 1911 Sergent received the grande médaille de l'architecture privée from the Société centrale des architectes.
Selected works
- 1894 : Mansion, 9 rue Léo-Delibes, Paris, neo-gothic and neo-renaissance style.
- 1903-1906 : Château de Voisins at Saint-Hilarion (Yvelines) for Comte Edmond de Fels. Spectacular château inspired by Ange-Jacques GabrielAnge-Jacques GabrielAnge-Jacques Gabriel was the most prominent French architect of his generation.Born to a Parisian family of architects and initially trained by the royal architect Robert de Cotte and his father , whom he assisted in the creation of the Place Royale at Bordeaux , the younger Gabriel...
, particularly the École militaireÉcole MilitaireThe École Militaire is a vast complex of buildings housing various military training facilities located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, southeast of the Champ de Mars....
in Paris. - 1910 : Mansion, 9 avenue Charles Floquet, Paris, for Jules Steinbach, neo-classical style.
- 1911-1914 : Mansion, 63 rue de Monceau, Paris, for Comte Moïse de CamondoMoïse de CamondoCount Moïse de Camondo was an Ottoman Empire born Italian origin French banker. As a child, Camondo moved with his family, from their home in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire, to Paris where he grew up and continued his father's career as a banker...
(1860–1935), today the Musée Nissim de CamondoMusée Nissim de CamondoThe Musée Nissim de Camondo is a non-profit house museum located in the Hôtel Camondo, 63, rue de Monceau, at the edge of the Parc Monceau, VIIIe arrondissement, Paris, France....
. Inspired by the Petit TrianonPetit TrianonThe Petit Trianon is a small château located on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles in Versailles, France.-Design and construction:...
at VersaillesVersaillesVersailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
. - 1911 : Palais Ernesto Bosch, Buenos Aires, today the American embassy.
- 1911 : Palais Errazúriz, Buenos AiresBuenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, for Matías Errazúriz, today the National Museum of Decorative ArtsNational Museum of Decorative ArtsThe National Museum of Decorative Arts is an art museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina.-Overview:The museum has its origins in a marriage in 1897 between two prominent members of turn-of-the-century Argentine high society: Matías Errazúriz, the son of Chilean emigrés, and Josefina de Alvear, the...
. - 1911 : Mansion, Buenos Aires, for María Unzue de Alvear.
- 1912 : Palais "Sans Souci," San Fernando, Argentina, for Carlos María de Alvear.
- 1913 : Mansion, 19 avenue d'Iéna, Paris, for Alfred Heidelbach, neo-classical style, today the Panthéon BouddhiquePanthéon BouddhiqueThe Panthéon Bouddhique, also known as the Galeries du Panthéon Bouddhique or the Galerie du Pantheon Bouddhique du Japon et de la Chine, is a museum of Japanese and Chinese art works...
of the Musée Guimet. - 1914 : Mansion, Buenos Aires, for the Atucha family.
- 1922 : Asilo Luis María Saavedra, Buenos Aires, for Mme Alvear de Bosch.
- Château d'Artigny, near Tours, for François CotyFrançois CotyFrançois Coty was a French perfume manufacturer, newspaper publisher, and founder of the fascist league Solidarité Française...
, the perfumer and fascist. - Château de Voormezeele (Belgium), in the style of Louis XIV (destroyed).
- Mansion, on the Champ de Mars, Paris, for Jean-Philippe Worth, neo-classical style.