An archive is usually named for one person, but it always contains many other voices. The Kenneth Frampton archive recently arrived at the CCA and it emerges in the exhibition Educating Architects: Four Courses by Kenneth Frampton. The exhibition includes a few letters from over sixty years of correspondence, but there could have been many more—in the archive, there’s(...)
Kenneth Frampton, Educating Architects: Four Courses by Kenneth Frampton, Jacqueline Meyer
August 2017 to September 2017
“Dear Ken”: Reading the Archive Out Loud
Actions:
Description:
An archive is usually named for one person, but it always contains many other voices. The Kenneth Frampton archive recently arrived at the CCA and it emerges in the exhibition Educating Architects: Four Courses by Kenneth Frampton. The exhibition includes a few letters from over sixty years of correspondence, but there could have been many more—in the archive, there’s(...)
Architect James Frazer Stirling’s work has resisted characterization because of its radical shifts in influence, named by others as prewar modernism to Neoclassicism, Rationalism and Brutalism to Postmodernism. But the continuity of his thinking emerges through the quantity and variety of material in the James Stirling/Michael Wilford Archive, a tool for understanding an(...)
Main galleries
16 May 2012 to 14 October 2012
Notes from the Archive: James Frazer Stirling
Actions:
Description:
Architect James Frazer Stirling’s work has resisted characterization because of its radical shifts in influence, named by others as prewar modernism to Neoclassicism, Rationalism and Brutalism to Postmodernism. But the continuity of his thinking emerges through the quantity and variety of material in the James Stirling/Michael Wilford Archive, a tool for understanding an(...)
Main galleries
Devices of Design
A collaboration between the CCA and the Daniel Langlois Foundation for Art, Science, and Technology, Devices of Design was initiated in response to the increasingly widespread use of digital media and software technologies in architectural design and construction. A colloquium and a subsequent roundtable discussion address both the consequences that this shift implies for(...)
Paul-Desmarais Theatre
18 November 2004 to 19 November 2004
Devices of Design
Actions:
Description:
A collaboration between the CCA and the Daniel Langlois Foundation for Art, Science, and Technology, Devices of Design was initiated in response to the increasingly widespread use of digital media and software technologies in architectural design and construction. A colloquium and a subsequent roundtable discussion address both the consequences that this shift implies for(...)
Paul-Desmarais Theatre
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
John Bird fonds
AP108
Synopsis:
The John Bird fonds documents the professional practice of the Westmount-based architect, and includes drawings and photographs of 24 architectural projects carried out in and around Montréal, Québec between 1954 and 1992. The fonds also contains a number of published articles that document John Bird's professional activities. Key projects that are represented include the Canadian Technical Tape Building, St. Laurent (1955-1963), Saint Gabriel's Church, Montréal (1959-1960), and Saint John Brebeuf Church, Lasalle (1962-1966). The fonds also includes numerous projects for Toronto-Dominion Bank buildings (1959-1992) as well as residential designs completed for the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation (1956-1969).
1942 - 1992
John Bird fonds
Actions:
AP108
Synopsis:
The John Bird fonds documents the professional practice of the Westmount-based architect, and includes drawings and photographs of 24 architectural projects carried out in and around Montréal, Québec between 1954 and 1992. The fonds also contains a number of published articles that document John Bird's professional activities. Key projects that are represented include the Canadian Technical Tape Building, St. Laurent (1955-1963), Saint Gabriel's Church, Montréal (1959-1960), and Saint John Brebeuf Church, Lasalle (1962-1966). The fonds also includes numerous projects for Toronto-Dominion Bank buildings (1959-1992) as well as residential designs completed for the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation (1956-1969).
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
1942 - 1992
In conjunction with the exhibition The Other Architect, Todd Rouhe and Rachel Himmelfarb of common room present the groups collaborative working process: This question—what’s the problem?—is central to how common room works. The question defines a process of searching, experiencing, interacting, and communicating that not only informs how we understand architecture and(...)
Paul-Desmarais Theatre
19 November 2015
common room: What's the Problem?
Actions:
Description:
In conjunction with the exhibition The Other Architect, Todd Rouhe and Rachel Himmelfarb of common room present the groups collaborative working process: This question—what’s the problem?—is central to how common room works. The question defines a process of searching, experiencing, interacting, and communicating that not only informs how we understand architecture and(...)
Paul-Desmarais Theatre
research
Visiting Scholars 2002–2003
Chiara Baglione, IUAV-Istituto Universitario di Archittetura di Venezia, Venice, Italy Topic: Becoming an Architect in the Rome of Urban VIII: Architectural Training and Early Works of Pietro da Cortona Laurent Baridon, Université Marc Bloch, Strasbourg, France Topic: Dinocrate ou l’architecte en représentation Martin Bressani, McGill University, Montreal,(...)
5 January 2003 to 31 August 2003
Visiting Scholars 2002–2003
Actions:
Description:
Chiara Baglione, IUAV-Istituto Universitario di Archittetura di Venezia, Venice, Italy Topic: Becoming an Architect in the Rome of Urban VIII: Architectural Training and Early Works of Pietro da Cortona Laurent Baridon, Université Marc Bloch, Strasbourg, France Topic: Dinocrate ou l’architecte en représentation Martin Bressani, McGill University, Montreal,(...)
research
5 January 2003 to
31 August 2003
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
PGL architectes fonds
AP014
Synopsis:
Le fonds PGL architectes, 1959 – 1994, témoigne des activités de la firme d’architecture montréalaise, Papineau Gérin-Lajoie Le Blanc architectes, autant que ses sociétés affiliées et firmes remplaçantes. La majorité du fonds comprend des documents qui représentent 70 projets architecturaux, incluant des projets entrepris à travers le Québec, à Ottawa, à de multiples endroits au Nunavut, ainsi que des projets internationaux. Le fonds met en évidence la participation du PGL dans la construction d'infrastructure coloniale au Nunavik et au Nunavut, y compris les travaux sur des écoles associées avec des foyers fédéraux, qui sont reconnus comme faisant partie du système des pensionnats autochtones du Canada. De plus, le fonds documente l’utilisation des panneaux de fibre de verre modulaires employés par PGL. Pour la plupart, les documents dans ce fonds se composent des dessins, des documents photographiques, et des documents textuels. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The PGL architectes fonds, 1959 - 1994, documents the work and activities of the Montréal-based architecture firm, Papineau Gérin-Lajoie Le Blanc architectes, and its successor and affiliate companies. The records within this fonds represent 70 architectural projects undertaken by the firm, which include projects throughout Québec, Ottawa, and various locations in Nunavut, as well as some international projects. The fonds offers evidence of PGL’s participation in the construction of colonial infrastructure in Nunavik and Nunavut, including work on schools that are connected to Federal Hostels which are recognised as part of Canada's Indian Residential School system. The fonds also contains records documenting PGL’s use of modular, fiberglass-reinforced plastic panels in construction. The records within this fonds largely consist of drawings, photographic materials, and textual records.
1959 - 1994
PGL architectes fonds
Actions:
AP014
Synopsis:
Le fonds PGL architectes, 1959 – 1994, témoigne des activités de la firme d’architecture montréalaise, Papineau Gérin-Lajoie Le Blanc architectes, autant que ses sociétés affiliées et firmes remplaçantes. La majorité du fonds comprend des documents qui représentent 70 projets architecturaux, incluant des projets entrepris à travers le Québec, à Ottawa, à de multiples endroits au Nunavut, ainsi que des projets internationaux. Le fonds met en évidence la participation du PGL dans la construction d'infrastructure coloniale au Nunavik et au Nunavut, y compris les travaux sur des écoles associées avec des foyers fédéraux, qui sont reconnus comme faisant partie du système des pensionnats autochtones du Canada. De plus, le fonds documente l’utilisation des panneaux de fibre de verre modulaires employés par PGL. Pour la plupart, les documents dans ce fonds se composent des dessins, des documents photographiques, et des documents textuels. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The PGL architectes fonds, 1959 - 1994, documents the work and activities of the Montréal-based architecture firm, Papineau Gérin-Lajoie Le Blanc architectes, and its successor and affiliate companies. The records within this fonds represent 70 architectural projects undertaken by the firm, which include projects throughout Québec, Ottawa, and various locations in Nunavut, as well as some international projects. The fonds offers evidence of PGL’s participation in the construction of colonial infrastructure in Nunavik and Nunavut, including work on schools that are connected to Federal Hostels which are recognised as part of Canada's Indian Residential School system. The fonds also contains records documenting PGL’s use of modular, fiberglass-reinforced plastic panels in construction. The records within this fonds largely consist of drawings, photographic materials, and textual records.
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
1959 - 1994
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
AP082
Synopsis:
The OMA Universal Studios project records, 1996-1999, document an unexecuted project by the architectural firm OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) for a headquarters building for Universal Studios at Universal City, Los Angeles County, California. The design process for the project is documented through drawings, models, presentation panels, proposals, reports and project manuals.
1996-1999
OMA Universal Studios project records
Actions:
AP082
Synopsis:
The OMA Universal Studios project records, 1996-1999, document an unexecuted project by the architectural firm OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) for a headquarters building for Universal Studios at Universal City, Los Angeles County, California. The design process for the project is documented through drawings, models, presentation panels, proposals, reports and project manuals.
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
1996-1999
Sub-series
Opera Houses
CI001.S2.D3
Description:
Charles Rohault de Fleury's sustained involvement with the design of opera houses began with his appointment in 1846 as official architect of the existing Salle Le Pelletier, home to the *Paris Opera, and continued until an open competition was called in 1860 (Charles Garnier won this competition). During this period Rohault de Fleury submitted numerous proposals to replace theprovisional Salle Le Pelletier with a structure more appropriate to the grandeur and importance of France's national opera company. The CCA collection contains four projects related to his work for the Paris opera: two early projects (1846 and 1847) and one later one (1859) for a newopera house, and a portfolio of lithographs and drawings related to alterations and repairs to Salle Le Pelletier (1850-1854). The collection also includes Charles' earliest theatre project, a comprehensive plan for an opera house and surrounding infrastructure for the Theatre Royal Italien opera company (1838-1840), and an album containing drawings and prints of antique and contemporary theatres (1839-1854?). Charles' first project was for the Theatre Royal Italien opera company whose previous home, the Salle Favart, had burned down on the night of January 14 1838. The CCA collection contains an album of presentation drawings for a new theatre located on rue de la Paix with boutiques in the adjacent 'passages' (DR1974:0002:019:001-023). A second album consists of site plans including proposed 'maisons à loyers' (apartment buildings) and documents relating to the cost estimates and rental income for the entire project (DR1974:0002:036:001-016). The architectural style and interior arrangement of the theatre is heavily indebted to Francois Debret's Salle Le Pelletier. Charles' originality lies more in his conception of the social and economic role of the theatre in relation and integration, to its surrounding urban fabric. An explanation of the entire Theatre Royal Italien project, and Charles' role as architect in it, is found in two proposal letters (located in the Avery Library, Columbia University, NY) written by the entrepreneur Eugene Lecomte to the Minister of the Interior, Comte Duchatel, on May 15 and October 31 1839 (1). Charles' album of drawings at the CCA for the theatre and some of the cost and rental estimates are probably presentation copies directly related to the first letter, and most likely submitted to the Minister of the Interior. Charles' project was never executed, and the Italian opera company eventualy found a permanent home in the existing Salle Ventadour (1841). However, the inclusive nature of the Théâtre Royal Italien proposal, with its stress on urban development and contextuality, continued to play a seminal role in his later Paris Opera projects. Upon replacing Francois Debret as architect of Salle Le Pelletier in 1846, Charles proposed nine possible locations (site plans) for a new opera house for the Paris Opera (*Academie Royale de Musique) and, in the following year (1847) prepared a portfolio of drawings for the actual structure with an accompanying seven-page manuscript describing the project. Although executed in successive years, the site plans and 1847 drawings are conceptually related. Both components were undertaken in response to offical interest in a public competition that was never implemented (2)(3). The CCA has two sets of the nine site plans proposed in 1846 (DR1974:0002:036:001-016), one containing transfer lithographed site plans with a written analysis and cost estimate for each of the proposed locations, and the other with only the site plans (similar sets are located in the 'Archives Nationales' in France). They indicate that Charles, (heavily influenced by his Théâtre Royal Italien project) preferred the Rue de la Paix location (siteplan #3) for the new opera house. Although site plan number six, Boulevard des Capucines, was not favoured at this date, it is highly prophetic as it was the location officially chosen in 1860 for the new opera house. Apparently unique to the CCA collection is the 1847 manuscript and portfolio of drawings for the proposed opera house (DR1974:0002:036:001-016). The manuscript is both an indepth review of the requirements for a national opera house and a guide to his portfolio of drawings. Charles' conception and design continued to be strongly influenced by Debret's Salle Lepelletier, as well as his own Théâtre Italien project, and various antique and contemporary opera houses and theatres. Many of the French and Italian sources mentioned in the manuscript are collected in an album (DR1974:0002:010:001-048) as references for his own designs (4). As official architect of Salle Le pelletier, Charles was also responsible for repairs, restorations, and alterations to the existing structure. The drawings and transfer lithographs in the CCA collection (DR1974:0002:036:001-016) are primarily dated 1854, and relate to documented repair and restoration projects undertaken during this period (5)(6). The CCA collection has the presentation drawings and lithographs for the later 1859 project (DR1974:0002:027:001-027) for the Paris opera (*Theatre Imperiale de l'opera) that were sent to Achille Fould, the Minister of State. This project is probably a counterpart to a similiar one that he submitted to the Prefect of the Seine, Baron Haussmann, in the same year (7). Site plans show the opera house on an irregular polygonal site facing Boulevard des Capucines. The placement of the 'maisons à loyers' on the rear of the site reflects Charles' continued emphasis on integrating his opera projects into the surrounding urban context. In 1859, it appeared that Charles was favoured to build the new opera house. But late in the following year, a public competition was called in which Charles Garnier emerged as the victor. Although Charles did not build the final structure, his numerous projects, as exemplified in the CCA collection, were of prime importance in determining the location, configuration, and plan of the Place de l'Opera (8). * The 'Paris Opera' was France's national opera, and thus its name changed numerous times throughout its history according to altering perceptions of its role in French culture and/or changes in political regimes. For reasons of clarity, the national opera will be referred to as the Paris Opera. The names indicated in brackets with a star refer to the proper name of the opera company at the date of the project. (1) Eugene Le Comte, "Projet de Salle rue de la Paix, pour le Théâtre Royal Italien: Lettres à Monsieur le Ministre de l'Intérieur, en date des 15 mai et 31octobre 1839" (Paris: P. Dupont, 1839). (2) Christopher Curtis Mead, "Charles Garnier's Paris Opera and the Renaissance of Classicism in Nineteenth century French Architecture", 3 vols. (PhD thesis; Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1986), p. 234 and p. 956, fn. 30. (3) Monika Steinhauser, "Die Architektur des Pariser Oper" (Munich: Prestel Verlag, 1969), p. 45, fns. 143 and 144. (4) Barry Bergdoll, "Charles Rohault de Fleury: Part Three: Theatres and the Opera house", 'CCA Research Report', n.d., p. 3. (5) Larousse XIXth Century, s.v. "Rohault de Fleury, Charles". (6) Mead, p. 238. (7) Oeuvres de C. Rohault de Fleury, architecte" (Paris: Librarie centrale d'architecture, 1884).. (8) Macmillan, s.v. "Rohault de Fleury Familly".
1717-1868
Opera Houses
CI001.S2.D3
Description:
Charles Rohault de Fleury's sustained involvement with the design of opera houses began with his appointment in 1846 as official architect of the existing Salle Le Pelletier, home to the *Paris Opera, and continued until an open competition was called in 1860 (Charles Garnier won this competition). During this period Rohault de Fleury submitted numerous proposals to replace theprovisional Salle Le Pelletier with a structure more appropriate to the grandeur and importance of France's national opera company. The CCA collection contains four projects related to his work for the Paris opera: two early projects (1846 and 1847) and one later one (1859) for a newopera house, and a portfolio of lithographs and drawings related to alterations and repairs to Salle Le Pelletier (1850-1854). The collection also includes Charles' earliest theatre project, a comprehensive plan for an opera house and surrounding infrastructure for the Theatre Royal Italien opera company (1838-1840), and an album containing drawings and prints of antique and contemporary theatres (1839-1854?). Charles' first project was for the Theatre Royal Italien opera company whose previous home, the Salle Favart, had burned down on the night of January 14 1838. The CCA collection contains an album of presentation drawings for a new theatre located on rue de la Paix with boutiques in the adjacent 'passages' (DR1974:0002:019:001-023). A second album consists of site plans including proposed 'maisons à loyers' (apartment buildings) and documents relating to the cost estimates and rental income for the entire project (DR1974:0002:036:001-016). The architectural style and interior arrangement of the theatre is heavily indebted to Francois Debret's Salle Le Pelletier. Charles' originality lies more in his conception of the social and economic role of the theatre in relation and integration, to its surrounding urban fabric. An explanation of the entire Theatre Royal Italien project, and Charles' role as architect in it, is found in two proposal letters (located in the Avery Library, Columbia University, NY) written by the entrepreneur Eugene Lecomte to the Minister of the Interior, Comte Duchatel, on May 15 and October 31 1839 (1). Charles' album of drawings at the CCA for the theatre and some of the cost and rental estimates are probably presentation copies directly related to the first letter, and most likely submitted to the Minister of the Interior. Charles' project was never executed, and the Italian opera company eventualy found a permanent home in the existing Salle Ventadour (1841). However, the inclusive nature of the Théâtre Royal Italien proposal, with its stress on urban development and contextuality, continued to play a seminal role in his later Paris Opera projects. Upon replacing Francois Debret as architect of Salle Le Pelletier in 1846, Charles proposed nine possible locations (site plans) for a new opera house for the Paris Opera (*Academie Royale de Musique) and, in the following year (1847) prepared a portfolio of drawings for the actual structure with an accompanying seven-page manuscript describing the project. Although executed in successive years, the site plans and 1847 drawings are conceptually related. Both components were undertaken in response to offical interest in a public competition that was never implemented (2)(3). The CCA has two sets of the nine site plans proposed in 1846 (DR1974:0002:036:001-016), one containing transfer lithographed site plans with a written analysis and cost estimate for each of the proposed locations, and the other with only the site plans (similar sets are located in the 'Archives Nationales' in France). They indicate that Charles, (heavily influenced by his Théâtre Royal Italien project) preferred the Rue de la Paix location (siteplan #3) for the new opera house. Although site plan number six, Boulevard des Capucines, was not favoured at this date, it is highly prophetic as it was the location officially chosen in 1860 for the new opera house. Apparently unique to the CCA collection is the 1847 manuscript and portfolio of drawings for the proposed opera house (DR1974:0002:036:001-016). The manuscript is both an indepth review of the requirements for a national opera house and a guide to his portfolio of drawings. Charles' conception and design continued to be strongly influenced by Debret's Salle Lepelletier, as well as his own Théâtre Italien project, and various antique and contemporary opera houses and theatres. Many of the French and Italian sources mentioned in the manuscript are collected in an album (DR1974:0002:010:001-048) as references for his own designs (4). As official architect of Salle Le pelletier, Charles was also responsible for repairs, restorations, and alterations to the existing structure. The drawings and transfer lithographs in the CCA collection (DR1974:0002:036:001-016) are primarily dated 1854, and relate to documented repair and restoration projects undertaken during this period (5)(6). The CCA collection has the presentation drawings and lithographs for the later 1859 project (DR1974:0002:027:001-027) for the Paris opera (*Theatre Imperiale de l'opera) that were sent to Achille Fould, the Minister of State. This project is probably a counterpart to a similiar one that he submitted to the Prefect of the Seine, Baron Haussmann, in the same year (7). Site plans show the opera house on an irregular polygonal site facing Boulevard des Capucines. The placement of the 'maisons à loyers' on the rear of the site reflects Charles' continued emphasis on integrating his opera projects into the surrounding urban context. In 1859, it appeared that Charles was favoured to build the new opera house. But late in the following year, a public competition was called in which Charles Garnier emerged as the victor. Although Charles did not build the final structure, his numerous projects, as exemplified in the CCA collection, were of prime importance in determining the location, configuration, and plan of the Place de l'Opera (8). * The 'Paris Opera' was France's national opera, and thus its name changed numerous times throughout its history according to altering perceptions of its role in French culture and/or changes in political regimes. For reasons of clarity, the national opera will be referred to as the Paris Opera. The names indicated in brackets with a star refer to the proper name of the opera company at the date of the project. (1) Eugene Le Comte, "Projet de Salle rue de la Paix, pour le Théâtre Royal Italien: Lettres à Monsieur le Ministre de l'Intérieur, en date des 15 mai et 31octobre 1839" (Paris: P. Dupont, 1839). (2) Christopher Curtis Mead, "Charles Garnier's Paris Opera and the Renaissance of Classicism in Nineteenth century French Architecture", 3 vols. (PhD thesis; Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1986), p. 234 and p. 956, fn. 30. (3) Monika Steinhauser, "Die Architektur des Pariser Oper" (Munich: Prestel Verlag, 1969), p. 45, fns. 143 and 144. (4) Barry Bergdoll, "Charles Rohault de Fleury: Part Three: Theatres and the Opera house", 'CCA Research Report', n.d., p. 3. (5) Larousse XIXth Century, s.v. "Rohault de Fleury, Charles". (6) Mead, p. 238. (7) Oeuvres de C. Rohault de Fleury, architecte" (Paris: Librarie centrale d'architecture, 1884).. (8) Macmillan, s.v. "Rohault de Fleury Familly".
File 3
1717-1868
Bas Princen: Volcano Walks
In this artist’s talk, Bas Princen will discuss the current status of the 17 Volcanoes project and explore the resonances between the works of Franz Wilhelm Junghuhn, works by early-twentieth-century Dutch photographers in Java (like van Nieuwenhuis), and his own practice. Although discovering new places seems impossible today, the talk takes as a point of departure the(...)
15 October 2016, 3pm
Bas Princen: Volcano Walks
Actions:
Description:
In this artist’s talk, Bas Princen will discuss the current status of the 17 Volcanoes project and explore the resonances between the works of Franz Wilhelm Junghuhn, works by early-twentieth-century Dutch photographers in Java (like van Nieuwenhuis), and his own practice. Although discovering new places seems impossible today, the talk takes as a point of departure the(...)