Henri labrouste

Henri Labrouste was born on 11th May 1801 in Paris, France and died on the 24th of June 1875 in Fontainebleau (Merwood-Salisbury, 2014). He was a famous French-based architect from the well-established Ecole des Beaux-Arts architecture school. After living for about six years in Rome Henri Labrouste developed an architectural training workspace which within no time became very popular for rationalism (Merwood-Salisbury, 2014). He was well known for his utilization of iron frame building and was among the first individuals to establish and experience the significance of its utilization. Henri Labrouste in his schooling in Paris won Prix de Rome in regard to his familiarity with architecture in 1824 and it is after that period that he spent several years in Italy after which his focus became more centered and he established a studio in Paris and his popularity heightened even further (Merwood-Salisbury, 2014).

Henri Labrouste is particularly remembered in regard to his two primary partisan libraries that he designed. His skills very evident in the construction and uniqueness that is yet to be matched. He believed that the best design is the one that adheres to simplicity so that it can attract those with its interest and those that lacks knowledge of art and designing. The Bibliotheque Sainte-Genevieve library which is one of his sole designs was constructed amid the year 1843 up to 1850 (Merwood-Salisbury, 2014). The library is still admired till today for the intense attraction and limitation of its decorations in addition to the delicate utilization of exposed iron mechanical components both for pillars and arches. Henri Labrouste has also remained relevant due to his second library initiative well known as the Reading Room constructed amid 1860 and 1867 of the national Bibliotheque (Merwood-Salisbury, 2014). The roofing of this project consists of nine different decorated metal domes that are fully reinforced by thinner cast-iron pillars. Despite his skills, he maintained simplicity in all that he did not only to win the hearts of those following him but also as a means of creating a more firm foundation.

Methodology

Henri Labrouste utilized a functionalist approach (Labrouste et al., 2012). The issue-based theory is the approach that the firm will utilize for the library project. This involves developing architectural solutions to an existing issue through the utilization of design. This will be achieved by comparing designs as created by Henri Labrouste as a way of borrowing thoughts to solving the issues. The project will mainly begin by addressing the issue of library designs in the proposed sites particularly those that involve designs and to be addressed through the use of constructive design (Hanser, 2006). This will not mainly be grounded on the sites but to address the current design problem that makes the construction to be less appealing to the users. In order for solutions to be developed comparison amid the existing ideas from our client will be borrowed to satisfactory which will be placing more assertion on the need for sensitivity and simplicity while using iron elements in constructions as demonstrated by Henri Labrouste (Merwood-Salisbury, 2014).

Unique Qualifications

The firm is petitioning qualifications from architectural designers for the purpose of offering architectural services for a proposed project. The firm is in need of consultant services providers. The scope of the needed services of the Architect record is based on comprehensive architectural and engineering design services that incorporate master development and programming for a project that is to be designed on a location in France that is currently owned by the client. The needed team will be qualified based on their previous experience in construction of a library project. The design team will thus be required to offer more detailed samples of the completed projects to be reviewed by the selection board including a list of the involved clients, completion date, and the location. Given that this is a major project there is a need to select the most qualified and experienced team to bring innovativeness and creativity for the library construction. The knowledge related to iron elements construction is necessary for the purposes of the project to be achieved (Labrouste et al., 2012).

Henri Labrouste Libraries Projects

Bibliotheque Nationale de France also was known as the National Library of France is accounted as the most important library in France is one of the oldest in the global context and is situated in Paris (Raizman & Gorman, 2007). Around 1838 up to 1850 the design for the Bibliotheque Sainte-Genevieve library was developed and was constructed under the guidance of Labrouste as the architect (Raizman & Gorman, 2007). He was offered the project back in 1938 but the building never started until five years later and it was completed in seven years. The iron and glass study room is described by most as fascinating and the building on its own has seminal different workpieces in regard to the development of the modern library as the primary knowledge sanctuary and a huge space for observation. Henri Labrouste proved his functionalist approach after taking close to seven years of construction of both of his projects (Raizman & Gorman, 2007).

The Bibliotheque Sainte-Genevieve library was constructed amid 1943 and 1950 (Raizman & Gorman, 2007). The design of this li bray, unlike all others, is plain when compared to all other interior attraction in regard to masonry and iron construction which is an influence of Labrouste’s simplified design (Raizman & Gorman, 2007). Due to his outstanding potential to utilize iron with caution and sensitivity in construction this building is considered to be one of the revolutionary. It is his design that has been utilized as the base for most of the contemporary designs today and more. He almost convinced the modern designs that simplicity and sensitivity was the vital tool for developing the most unique and appealing designs without fail. Labrouste’s Library designs projects were particularly created in selected and reductively seemingly flexible manner with his own style that was revolutionary and has grown to be the modern paradigm theory for the current interior and exterior building architectural designers. The display of both projects is displayed in a manner that requires no reasonable explanation thus making it even easier for the users to connect at ease in general (Webb, 2004).

Labrouste even in his two major libraries projects achievements might not be a recognizable title to most but he has made a huge influence on the modern architectural design (Webb, 2004). For the library projects that he guided he acquired administration from the post and contemporary artists based on his innovative based concept that involved embracing fresh technology such as cast iron in addition to glass. Both of his projects are accounted to be among the largest that was developed during that period based on the creativity that he utilized and the fact that his functionalist approach that adhered to the needs of the users was never abandoned (Webb, 2004).

 Image: The Bibliotheque Sainte-Geneveive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Hanser, D. A. (2006). Architecture of France: Reference guides to national architecture. Westport, Conn. [u.a.: Greenwood Press.

Joanna Merwood-Salisbury (2014) Exhibition: ‘Henri Labrouste: Structure Brought to Light’, The Journal of Architecture, 19:1, 156-159, DOI: 10.1080/13602365.2014.886387

Labrouste, H., Bélier, C., Bergdoll, B., Le, C. M., Bressani, M., Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.), Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine (Paris, France). Bibliothèque nationale de France. (2012). Henri Labrouste: Structure brought to light. New York: Museum of Modern Art.

Raizman, D. S., & Gorman, C. (2007). Objects, audiences and literatures: Alternative narratives in the history of design. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars.

Webb, T. (2004). Building libraries for the 21st century: The shape of information. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co.