RR8: L'Observatoire de Paris & Function in Design

Louis XIV, King of France as of 1661 ruled as an absolute monarch with an effective government bureaucracy spearheaded by Jean-Baptiste Colbert. His reign is associated with great economic wealth for the most upperclass in France, and there were many lavish constructions in this Baroque time period. One of these new constructions was the Observatoire for the Royal Academy of Science that was founded in 1671, by architect Claude Perrault whose brother, Charles, was secretary to Colbert and superintendent of public works.

http://www.culture.gouv.fr/Wave/image/joconde/0063/m501686_93ce5892_p.jpg

Perrault is noted for translating Vitruvius's Ten Books on Architecture into French, with a special dedication to King Loius XIV. There are some elements of classical architecture that he used in this new building type, but most of his designs were in direct opposition to the current societal trends for opulence, seen above.

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Both the plan and elevation (seen above) help illuminate other major features:

-there are no orders, no columns, no pilasters
-each side of the octagonal corner towers was aligned with the sun's position at solstices and equinoxes
-the eastern tower was unroofed for the use of a telescope
-designed with a symmetrical appearance and a solid, smooth outward appearance
-the entire building, including the roof, was carefully crafted from stone
-a hole in the center of the floors of the main chambers allowed the sun's zenith to be calculated
 

http://www.astro.ulg.ac.be/RPub/Colloques/XXL/meridienne.jpg

 There have been several additions since, including the infamous Meridian Room (above) and a dome addition (below). The Observatoire is still used today.

http://media.timeout.com/images/100004327/660/370/image.jpg

One of the interesting aspects of this building to me is how it so clearly defines the Reverberations Unit we are currently in. While the rest of the kingdom is in full Baroque competition, this well crafted new building type is pared down and unassuming compared to its contemporaries. With a clear design for technological use and innovation, the building was thoughtfully oriented towards major solar movements with the added benefit of nighttime telescope viewing. I find that this building sets the stage for a different kind of conversation on how space can be used for technology and study as a larger scale instrument to be used in discovery, with the clear distinction of intent in design. As for my own designs, I think that the Observatoire is a clear reminder that when stripped of its decorative dressings, how the building functions and works with the environment can be beautiful enough in itself.