RR10: Iron & Glass Explorations in the Bibliotheque

 Henri Labrouste studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in 1819 at the age of 18. He won many design competitions during his time there, but was notable for challenging the contemporary teachings of design. He believed that "buildings arose as expressions of unique functional and social environments and not as universal prototypes." (Roth). The Bibliotheque Sainte-Genevieve in Paris is noted for his intent to explore this theory.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WjxCfiYRwsM/TLPbLiJaxKI/AAAAAAAAAPI/mtWJiZEJoXY/s1600/Biblioth%C3%A8que+St+Genevi%C3%A8ve+Paris.jpeg

 The exterior (seen above) has a nod to classical architecture, with repeated arches, and the double layers reminiscent of the Medici house in Italy. The symmetrical floorplan (below) is also loosely associated with the classicist past, with the inclusion of the large portico on the front.

http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Biblio_Ste_Genevieve.html

 

New technologies of glass and iron greatly influenced the interior of the building. Designed for a large reading room on the upper floor, the glass supported by iron framework spans the great hall while allowing daylight into the room. This was the first library designed that was not restricted to daylight with lamps for nighttime reading. 

http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Biblio_Ste_Genevieve.html

 

 

 The section (seen above) helps illuminate several of the innovations that Labrouste incorporated. These include:

- double barrel vaults supported by thin iron transverse arches
- thin iron center columns with stone columns on the outer walls
- no "superfluous" classical ornamentation
- arcade of glazed glass so daylight could stream in

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5005456844_c83b7e2727.jpg

The completed interior (seen above in the present day) was groundbreaking as an essay on commodity, firmness and delight in equal parts that harks back to Vitruvius. Additionally, the theories of Labrouste created a new desire for the "external character of the building arising from the inside function projected to the outside." (Roth).

For me, I find that the theories that we have discussed all semester of commodity, firmness and delight are being explored intellectually by architects. Additionally, the interior space shaping the external space is an interesting change of design methodology. So often I find that we take inspirations from the outside world, when the argument here is to consider the use of space first, and design the creation from that. The explorations of how this idea is to come about is of great interest to me in the final weeks of this semester.