(1760-1835)

Jean-Nicolas-Louis Durand

Introduction • Was an architect, professor and French theorist of architecture.

• Was important figure in Neoclassicism.

• His most famous treatise, Précis des leçons d'architecture (Specific architectural

lessons) presents a schematic and rational way to design buildings, used by

Beauxartiana Architecture until the arrival of modern architecture.

1760• Born in Paris, September 18

1778

• Started to work at the office of Étienne-Louis Boullée(1728-1799) for some time, where he trained as an architect.

1796• Became a professor of Architecture at École polytechnique(1796-1833).

1800

• He pubished Receuil et parallele des édifices en tout genre, anciens et modernes (Series and parallel buildings of all kinds, ancient and modern).

• An encyclopedia of historical architecture.

1802-1805

• Précis des leçons d'architecture (Specific architectural lessons).

• Durand’s lectures to his students.

1835• Died in Thiais, December 31

Receuil et parallele des édifices en tout genre,

anciens et modernes(Series and parallel buildings of all kinds,

ancient and modern)

‘

• This book contains ancient and modern architectural examples.

• It was an extensive attempt to place the world architecture of former days in

an historical context.

• A real "imaginary museum" of world architecture.

• Its aim was to compare the different architectures throughout history to learn

from them.

• Drawings (plan, elevation and section) were uniformly scaled and arranged.

• It comes down to the same scale and shown as horizontal plans and / or

elevations in detailed.

• Systematic categorization of the worlds architecture.

• For example, "central domed buildings" or "peristyle courtyards” etc.

• Every building and every reproduction are accompanied by a brief

description that specifies the location, name, sometimes the date of

construction or the author of reproduction.

Horizontal connection between columns, pilasters, doors and windows

Various types of building developed from a square ground plan

Orders:• The capitals are classified as not in

the traditional order but as a historical chronology, archaeological examples from Egypt, Greece and Rome.

• Although such a procedure returns to

finally conclude in traditional

succession of the Doric to Corinthian,

the main ordering principle no longer

why historical and topographical.

Précis des leçons d'architecture(Specific architectural lessons)

• Has teaching vocation and is a sort of collection of highly illustrated

notes.

• Standardization and systemization of the concept of architecture.

Main goal of architecture:

― social utility is the primary purpose of architecture.

2 kinds of buildings:

- Public

- Private

“The aim of architecture is public and private utility, the happiness and the

protection of individuals and of society”. (Durand p.84)

3 Parts of Architecture:

1. Decoration

2. Distribution

3. Construction

Main Principles:

• The "convenience" of any building and the "economy" of the figure of the project and its construction should be subject to principle.

• Convenience:

- Stability,- Health and - Comfort:

- Symmetry,

- Regularity and

- Simplicity.

• Economy: The principle of profitability therefore relates to the efficiency of the design , clear technical computation, and the logistical execution of building work.

• Economies and rationality of the design was the deciding factor.

• For example, Crystal Palace, London.

• His formal systematization of plans, elevations, and sections transformed

architectural design into a selective modular typology in which symmetry and

simple geometrical forms prevailed.

• Strictly symmetrical, one that provides square grid as the basis of walls and

support.

• Organized on a axial basis.

• Durand also developed the idea that form depends on the properties of materials.

Elements of Buildings: Qualities of Materials, Uses of Materials, Forms and Proportions.

Composition in General:

Combination of the elements, the Parts of Buildings, Buildings as a Whole.

Examinations of the Principal Kinds of Buildings:

Principal Parts of Cities - approaches to Cities, Tombs, Streets, Bridges, ect.

Public Buildings – Temples, Palaces, Museums, Theaters, ect.

Private Buildings – Townhouses, Apartments, Inns, ect.

Disregarding:• Architectural traditions.

• Symbolic levels of expression.

• Topography.

Conclusion:

• Durand was an important figure in architecture, was a theorist who cared too

much about the economy and the rationality of the projects.

He had three outstanding contributions:

― The graph paper, which to date is still used.

― The initiative to worry about the economy; crucial aspect of any work.

― The book "analogy collection and all kinds of old and modern buildings" was

dedicated to exposing the correct construction of buildings.

Works Cited:

•Evers, Bernd. Architectural Theory: From the Renaissance to the Present. Cologne:

Taschen, 2006.

•Kruft, Hanno-Walter. A History of Architectural Theory: From Vitruvius to the present.

New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1994.

Durand, Jean-Nicolas-Louis. Précis: of the Lectures on Architecture. Los Angeles:

Getty Research Institute, 2000.