Étienne-Louis Boullée

Etienne-Louis Boullée was a

visionary French neoclassical
architect whose work greatly
influenced contemporary
architects and is still influential
today. Developing a distinctive
abstract geometric style inspired by
Classical forms. His work was
characterized by the removal of all
unnecessary ornamentation,
inflating geometric forms to a huge
scale and repeating elements such
as columns in huge ranges.

Architecture, Essai sur l'art (Book)……. drawings of projects for public

buildings he designed between 1778 and 1788: churches, palaces, courts, assemblies, theaters, libraries,
museums, city gates, memorial arches, bridges, lighthouses, cemeteries, cenotaphs…
“Why does the regular shaped figure emphasized
at first sight?
Because its faces are regular and recurrent and because its form is simple...We
distinguish them thanks to the image of order that their regularity and symmetry suggest...
The regularity sets the beauty of form; symmetry, order, and overall beauty; variety
produces various levels by means of which they are diversified to us ... Proportion is an
effect that arises from regularity, symmetry and variety…The harmony of the bodies is
born from the combination and the perfect conjunction of all its proportions….”

Theatre exterior
 “Greatness is directly related to beauty and,
under different meanings, it is the
same whether objects are pleasant or
horrifying. Looking grand in anything means
revealing superior qualities”

Cenotaph Boullee

“the image of greatness satisfies us

in every aspect because our soul,
eager to extend its joys, seems
ready to embrace the Universe”
Bibliotheque Nationale
Hôtel Alexandre

Oval bull's-eye windows

Flanking doors in the

corners of the courtyard
have isolated architraves
embedded in the wall above
their plain openings

Four Corinthian columns

embedded against a
recess in the wall plane
create an entry
 CENOTAPH FOR ISSAC NEWTON
Basically, the building is a large sphere that
represents both the land and Newton’s
discoveries. Its access can be gained through the
base and, despite its size, only a small area of
such base can be occupied. Its surface is
skillfully perforated, so that sunlight can enter
during the day and create the picture of the
night sky. At night a great source of artificial
light in the center portrays the daytime image .

Light represents Newton, lighting the knowledge of mankind Perforated roof gives night sky view during day
 Play of light and shadow

“To produce sad and dark images it is necessary to present architecture by means of a
completely bare wall, as I intended in some funerary buildings, showing a picture of
sunken architecture by means of low proportions and buried into the ground; in short,
give shape, by means of light absorbing materials, to the dark image of an architecture
defined by the shadow effect. This type of shadow-integrated architecture is an artistic
discovery that belongs to me ...

Metropolitan Church