Iron and Steel in Europe

Church of Sainte Genevieve

Bibliotheque St Genevive, Paris, 1843 Henri Labrouste

Bibliotheque St Genevive

Bibliotheque St Genevive

Bibliotheque St Genevive

Bibliotheque St Genevive, Detail showing the names of authors inscribed on the facade and the bronze paterae

Pantheon (Sainte Genevieve) façade detail: “Aux Grands Hommes La Paris Reconnaissante”

Bibliotheque St Genevive, plan

Bibliotheque St Genevive Entrance vestibule with arcadian murals and philosopher's busts; note the contrast between the light iron superstructure and the

square and fluted heavy masonry piers.

Bibliotheque St Genevive, Reading room

Bibliotheque St Genevive, Reading room with central iron colonnade supporting the arched ceiling.

Project for the Bibliotheque Nationale, Boullee (1785)

Bibliotheque St Genevive, section

Bibliotheque St Genevive, section

This building expresses the tension between the traditions of history (as displayed on the exterior) and the promises of technology (revealed in the interior).

Labrouste follows tradition and includes the names of over 900 authors on the exterior entablature. The interior reading room uses iron decoratively as well as

structurally, elevating iron's status from a purely industrial material. The sense of modernity is also expressed through the inclusion of gas lamps in the reading

room, thereby allowing a public interior space to be utilized at night.

CRYSTAL PALACE, London (1851) Joseph Paxton, reconstruction with

landscapingCrystal Palace, London, 1851 Joseph Paxton

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace

Greenhouse/Conservatory

Crystal Palace, construction

Crystal Palace, construction

Crystal Palace, construction

Crystal Palace, early plan

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace, elevation

Crystal Palace, photo

Crystal Palace after fire

LES HALLES, Paris. V. Baltard. (1853)

GALLERIA Vittorio Emanuele II. (1861-1877) Arcade connecting Piazza del Duomo with the Piazza delle Scala

Arch of Constantine 315 CE

Alberti’s Sant'Andrea, Mantua (begun 1470) Facade combining triumphal arch and temple front motifs

Galleria, plans

Milan Cathedral (Duomo) 1380-1900s?

Galleria, etching

Galleria, interior

Galleria, interior

                                                                        

                                             

Galleria, dome construction

Virtual Tour: http://www.hotelcristallomilan.com/virtual_milan/Milan_Galleria.htm

ST PANCRAS Station, London, (1863-67)

St Pancras Station

St Pancras Station, section

St Pancras Station, exterior

St Pancras Station, exterior

St Pancras Station (Midland Grand Hotel)

St Pancras Station, plan

Victoria Station London, England. G. Stephenson. (1845-49)

Train accident Gare du Montparnasse 1895

EIFFEL TOWER, early plan

Eiffel Tower, Gustov Eiffel. (1887-89)

Eiffel Tower, construction

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower, plan of first level

The Oxford Museum by Deane and Woodward

The Oxford Museum,  Iron and glass roofed court

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM (1873) watercolor

Natural History Museum, interior

Natural History Museum, interior

Natural History Museum (Romanesque)

Natural History Museum, door

Natural History Museum, door detail Romanesque columns

                                            

Natural History Museum, Terracotta monkeys climbing an interior archway.

                                                            

Natural History Museum, interior. Terracotta panels of living creatures and plants.