The Idea of the Penitentiary
This exhibition explores the notion of penitentiary, which worked its way into the consciousness and across the landscape of Europe and North America during the nineteenth century. Drawing upon the growing rationalist tendencies in architecture and social theory during the eighteenth century, proponents of penitentiary emphasised a clear geometry of separation,(...)
Hall cases
8 November 1995 to 31 May 1996
The Idea of the Penitentiary
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Description:
This exhibition explores the notion of penitentiary, which worked its way into the consciousness and across the landscape of Europe and North America during the nineteenth century. Drawing upon the growing rationalist tendencies in architecture and social theory during the eighteenth century, proponents of penitentiary emphasised a clear geometry of separation,(...)
Hall cases
Sub-series
CI001.S2.D5
Description:
Charles Rohault de Fleury was architect for the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle from 1833 to 1862. His work for the Muséum is represented in the CCA collection by a diverse group of prints and drawings. In addition to documenting his built and unbuilt projects, the inclusion of prints and drawings of museum and zoo buildings by other architects record, if only partially, the resources available to Charles in designing his buildings. This reference material provides insight into the influences on Charles' work as well as the nature of the design process itself. His built works, with the exception of the 1854 addition to the greenhouses, are illustrated in a book of prints with a brief accompanying text - "Muséum d'histoire naturelle: serres chaudes, galeries de minéralogie, etc. etc." (published 1837) (DR1974:0002:004:001; a second copy is held by the CCA library) (1). While prints are included for the Galerie de minéralogie et de géologie, the monkey house and the reservoirs, the majority of the prints are of the greenhouses (serres chaudes) begun 1833 (2). Known for their technological innovations in iron construction, these greenhouses utilized the first multi-storey load-bearing cast-iron façades for the central pavilions as well as space frame roof structures and prefabricated parts. This structural system is well documented in the prints in the CCA collection. The design was apparently inspired by the English greenhouses - a plate of which are included in the book - that Charles saw on a tour of England. The use of prestressed beams and curved roofs in the lateral wings attest to this influence. Charles' greenhouses, in turn, influenced the design of other greenhouses in Europe especially those at the Jardins Botanique in Liège and Ghent, Belgium (3). Although Joseph Paxton saw the greenhouses in 1833, it is unclear if they had an impact on the design of the Crystal Palace constructed 1850-1851 (4). The innovations of Charles' greenhouses continued to be acknowledged into the 20th century. Giedion in "Space, Time and Architecture", while erroneously attributing them to Rouhault (5)(6), refers to the greenhouses as "the prototype of all large iron-framed conservatories" (7). In addition to the greenhouses for the Muséum, the CCA collection includes three proposals (dated 1841) for a private greenhouse designed by Charles Rohault de Fleury (DR1974:0002:002:008 - DR1974:0002:002:013). The designs utilize the same curved roofs as the wings of the greenhouses at the Muséum combined with classically detailed stonework. An different aspect of Charles' work for the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle is represented in the album of unexecuted proposals -the only design drawings for the Muséum in the collection - for a Galerie de zoologie (DR1974:0002:024:001-079). Building on the typology of his earlier classical Galerie de minéralogie et de géologie (constructed 1833 -1841), the proposals, which date from between 1838 and 1862, illustrate a gradual enrichment of Charles' classical architectural vocabulary (8). They vary in their spatial configurations and façade treatments ranging from austere colonnaded designs with little ornament to more elaborate ones with richly encrusted facades, complex rooflines and more dramatic interior spaces characteristic of the Second Empire. The majority of the proposals consist of preliminary drawings illustrating the essential formal, spatial and ornamental aspects of the building. One proposal, dated January 1846, is substantially more developed than the others; in addition to general plans, sections and elevations, more detailed drawings are included for the layout of spaces, the elaboration of the facades, the configuration of the structure and even the designs for the specimen display cases. It is also worth noting that this album includes several plans outlining Rohault de Fleury's ideas for the overall development of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle. In 1846, an album of prints of the Museo di fiscia e storia naturelle in Florence (DR1974:0002:005:001-018) was presented to Charles by the Grand Duke of Tuscany in response to his request for tracings of that building. These prints were probably used as reference material for the design of the new Galerie de zoologie described above. The portfolio of record drawings (ca. 1862) of the zoos in Antwerp, Brussels, Marseille and Amsterdam (DR1974:0002:018:001-027) is probably a dummy for a publication on zoological gardens as well as background documentation for the renovation and expansion of the zoo at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris. Both drawings of the facilities for the animals and visitors and general plans of the zoological gardens are included. The Paris zoo project was apparently never undertaken. (1) These prints were reused in the "Oeuvre de C. Rohault de Fleury, architecte" (published 1884) (DR1974:0002:029:001-044). (2) Rohault de Fleury's greenhouses were destroyed in the Prussian bombardments of 1870. The greenhouses, which now stand in their place, are similar in layout and appearance to the original design, but their structural system is different. (3) John Hix, 'The Glass House' (Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press, 1981), p. 115. (4) Ibid., p. 115. (5) This error has been repeated by other authors including Henry-Russell Hitchcock, 'Architecture: Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries' (Baltimore, Maryland: Penguin Books, 1968), p. 120. (6) Leonardo Benevolo, 'History of Modern Architecture' Volume 1: The tradition of modern architecture (Cambridge, Mass.: The M.I.T. Press, 1971), p. 22. (7) Sigfried Giedion, 'Space, Time and Architecture; the growth of a new tradition' (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1941), p. 181. (8) Barry Bergdoll, "Charles Rohault de Fleury: Part two: Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle and Studies on analogous Constructions in Europe", 'CCA Research Report", n.d., p. 1.
[1837-ca. 1862]
Muséum nationale d'histoire naturelle
CI001.S2.D5
Description:
Charles Rohault de Fleury was architect for the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle from 1833 to 1862. His work for the Muséum is represented in the CCA collection by a diverse group of prints and drawings. In addition to documenting his built and unbuilt projects, the inclusion of prints and drawings of museum and zoo buildings by other architects record, if only partially, the resources available to Charles in designing his buildings. This reference material provides insight into the influences on Charles' work as well as the nature of the design process itself. His built works, with the exception of the 1854 addition to the greenhouses, are illustrated in a book of prints with a brief accompanying text - "Muséum d'histoire naturelle: serres chaudes, galeries de minéralogie, etc. etc." (published 1837) (DR1974:0002:004:001; a second copy is held by the CCA library) (1). While prints are included for the Galerie de minéralogie et de géologie, the monkey house and the reservoirs, the majority of the prints are of the greenhouses (serres chaudes) begun 1833 (2). Known for their technological innovations in iron construction, these greenhouses utilized the first multi-storey load-bearing cast-iron façades for the central pavilions as well as space frame roof structures and prefabricated parts. This structural system is well documented in the prints in the CCA collection. The design was apparently inspired by the English greenhouses - a plate of which are included in the book - that Charles saw on a tour of England. The use of prestressed beams and curved roofs in the lateral wings attest to this influence. Charles' greenhouses, in turn, influenced the design of other greenhouses in Europe especially those at the Jardins Botanique in Liège and Ghent, Belgium (3). Although Joseph Paxton saw the greenhouses in 1833, it is unclear if they had an impact on the design of the Crystal Palace constructed 1850-1851 (4). The innovations of Charles' greenhouses continued to be acknowledged into the 20th century. Giedion in "Space, Time and Architecture", while erroneously attributing them to Rouhault (5)(6), refers to the greenhouses as "the prototype of all large iron-framed conservatories" (7). In addition to the greenhouses for the Muséum, the CCA collection includes three proposals (dated 1841) for a private greenhouse designed by Charles Rohault de Fleury (DR1974:0002:002:008 - DR1974:0002:002:013). The designs utilize the same curved roofs as the wings of the greenhouses at the Muséum combined with classically detailed stonework. An different aspect of Charles' work for the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle is represented in the album of unexecuted proposals -the only design drawings for the Muséum in the collection - for a Galerie de zoologie (DR1974:0002:024:001-079). Building on the typology of his earlier classical Galerie de minéralogie et de géologie (constructed 1833 -1841), the proposals, which date from between 1838 and 1862, illustrate a gradual enrichment of Charles' classical architectural vocabulary (8). They vary in their spatial configurations and façade treatments ranging from austere colonnaded designs with little ornament to more elaborate ones with richly encrusted facades, complex rooflines and more dramatic interior spaces characteristic of the Second Empire. The majority of the proposals consist of preliminary drawings illustrating the essential formal, spatial and ornamental aspects of the building. One proposal, dated January 1846, is substantially more developed than the others; in addition to general plans, sections and elevations, more detailed drawings are included for the layout of spaces, the elaboration of the facades, the configuration of the structure and even the designs for the specimen display cases. It is also worth noting that this album includes several plans outlining Rohault de Fleury's ideas for the overall development of the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle. In 1846, an album of prints of the Museo di fiscia e storia naturelle in Florence (DR1974:0002:005:001-018) was presented to Charles by the Grand Duke of Tuscany in response to his request for tracings of that building. These prints were probably used as reference material for the design of the new Galerie de zoologie described above. The portfolio of record drawings (ca. 1862) of the zoos in Antwerp, Brussels, Marseille and Amsterdam (DR1974:0002:018:001-027) is probably a dummy for a publication on zoological gardens as well as background documentation for the renovation and expansion of the zoo at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris. Both drawings of the facilities for the animals and visitors and general plans of the zoological gardens are included. The Paris zoo project was apparently never undertaken. (1) These prints were reused in the "Oeuvre de C. Rohault de Fleury, architecte" (published 1884) (DR1974:0002:029:001-044). (2) Rohault de Fleury's greenhouses were destroyed in the Prussian bombardments of 1870. The greenhouses, which now stand in their place, are similar in layout and appearance to the original design, but their structural system is different. (3) John Hix, 'The Glass House' (Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press, 1981), p. 115. (4) Ibid., p. 115. (5) This error has been repeated by other authors including Henry-Russell Hitchcock, 'Architecture: Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries' (Baltimore, Maryland: Penguin Books, 1968), p. 120. (6) Leonardo Benevolo, 'History of Modern Architecture' Volume 1: The tradition of modern architecture (Cambridge, Mass.: The M.I.T. Press, 1971), p. 22. (7) Sigfried Giedion, 'Space, Time and Architecture; the growth of a new tradition' (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1941), p. 181. (8) Barry Bergdoll, "Charles Rohault de Fleury: Part two: Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle and Studies on analogous Constructions in Europe", 'CCA Research Report", n.d., p. 1.
File 5
[1837-ca. 1862]
In the Yesterday Today lecture series, Canadian architect and author Witold Rybczynski discusses the roots of Ecol House, a prototype for an autonomous dwelling for use in developing countries. The project was created in Montréal in 1972 by Ecol Operation, a group of architects and students of which he was a member that became an international point of reference for(...)
Paul-Desmarais Theatre
29 November 2007
Witold Rybczynski: Green Before Green
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In the Yesterday Today lecture series, Canadian architect and author Witold Rybczynski discusses the roots of Ecol House, a prototype for an autonomous dwelling for use in developing countries. The project was created in Montréal in 1972 by Ecol Operation, a group of architects and students of which he was a member that became an international point of reference for(...)
Paul-Desmarais Theatre
Marking the 10th anniversary of the CCA’s public opening, the exhibition spotlights and juxtaposes acquisitions from its first decade. Over 350 prints, drawings, photographs, rare books, manuscripts, toys, and models spanning five centuries of architectural history reflect how the built world has been imagined, conceived, and reflected upon. Dedicated to the many donors(...)
Main galleries and hall cases
24 November 1999 to 30 April 2000
En chantier: The Collections of the CCA, 1989-1999
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Description:
Marking the 10th anniversary of the CCA’s public opening, the exhibition spotlights and juxtaposes acquisitions from its first decade. Over 350 prints, drawings, photographs, rare books, manuscripts, toys, and models spanning five centuries of architectural history reflect how the built world has been imagined, conceived, and reflected upon. Dedicated to the many donors(...)
Main galleries and hall cases
Sub-series
AP197.S1.SS6
Description:
This subseries documents Kenneth Frampton’s writing of “Studies in Tectonic Culture: The Poetics of Construction in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Architecture” (1995) as well as his other writings related to tectonics such as course materials for the “Studies in Tectonic Culture” seminar at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) and some research materials on tectonics. Kenneth Frampton's research interest in tectonics began with four lectures he gave at Rice University in Texas in the 1980s. The lectures focused on the work of Louis Kahn, Mies van der Rohe, Auguste Perret, and Jørn Urzon. This research interest later became a book and teaching project in the early 1990s. Textual documentation in this subseries consists of contracts, book reviews, abstracts, correspondence, drafts for various chapters, notes, selected photographic materials for the publication and various articles on tectonics (written by others). Course outlines, course readers, lecture slides, student papers, and midterm exams from the Studies in Tectonic Culture seminar at GSAPP are also included in this subseries.
1965- 2009
Studies in tectonic culture (1984-2018)
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AP197.S1.SS6
Description:
This subseries documents Kenneth Frampton’s writing of “Studies in Tectonic Culture: The Poetics of Construction in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Architecture” (1995) as well as his other writings related to tectonics such as course materials for the “Studies in Tectonic Culture” seminar at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) and some research materials on tectonics. Kenneth Frampton's research interest in tectonics began with four lectures he gave at Rice University in Texas in the 1980s. The lectures focused on the work of Louis Kahn, Mies van der Rohe, Auguste Perret, and Jørn Urzon. This research interest later became a book and teaching project in the early 1990s. Textual documentation in this subseries consists of contracts, book reviews, abstracts, correspondence, drafts for various chapters, notes, selected photographic materials for the publication and various articles on tectonics (written by others). Course outlines, course readers, lecture slides, student papers, and midterm exams from the Studies in Tectonic Culture seminar at GSAPP are also included in this subseries.
Subseries
1965- 2009
Toys and Transport
Every new transportation link and every change in systems of urban mobility introduces new infrastructure to the urban landscape: massive cuts enabling railway tracks to converge at a terminal or junction; wide railyards that service suburban and metropolitan transit systems; the proliferation of bridges, ramps, elevated highways, freeway cuts, parking lots, and even(...)
Octagonal gallery
15 November 2000 to 1 April 2001
Toys and Transport
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Description:
Every new transportation link and every change in systems of urban mobility introduces new infrastructure to the urban landscape: massive cuts enabling railway tracks to converge at a terminal or junction; wide railyards that service suburban and metropolitan transit systems; the proliferation of bridges, ramps, elevated highways, freeway cuts, parking lots, and even(...)
Octagonal gallery
Series
Professional activities
AP022.S4
Description:
Series documents professional activities of Arthur Erickson outside of designing buildings, including awards and honours, such as the Massey Medals for Architecture and others, Erickson involvement with professional associations as well as addresses and writings by Erickson, book projects, conferences and workshops. The series contains correspondence with professional associations, certificats and medals received by Erickson throughout his career, invitations to events, drafts, notes and texts for lectures, conferences programs, and recordings of various televisions appearances of Erickson.
1955-1999 (predominant 1964-1989)
Professional activities
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AP022.S4
Description:
Series documents professional activities of Arthur Erickson outside of designing buildings, including awards and honours, such as the Massey Medals for Architecture and others, Erickson involvement with professional associations as well as addresses and writings by Erickson, book projects, conferences and workshops. The series contains correspondence with professional associations, certificats and medals received by Erickson throughout his career, invitations to events, drafts, notes and texts for lectures, conferences programs, and recordings of various televisions appearances of Erickson.
Series
1955-1999 (predominant 1964-1989)
photographs
Photographs of residences, University of Lethbridge, and Simon Fraser University used for promotion
ARCH260228
Description:
Photo reproductions of 2-page spreads from the book ''The Architecture of Arthur Erickson''
Photographs of residences, University of Lethbridge, and Simon Fraser University used for promotion
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ARCH260228
Description:
Photo reproductions of 2-page spreads from the book ''The Architecture of Arthur Erickson''
photographs
Mirrors / Miroirs
Mirrors/ Miroirs is conceived through an indirect dialogue with the exhibition Besides, History: Go Hasegawa, Kersten Geers, David Van Severen, a project rooted in the shared references and resonances between the work of two contemporary practices in the presence of history. If Besides, History is premised on impressions of one office’s work registered through(...)
Hall cases
22 June 2017 to 14 January 2018
Mirrors / Miroirs
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Description:
Mirrors/ Miroirs is conceived through an indirect dialogue with the exhibition Besides, History: Go Hasegawa, Kersten Geers, David Van Severen, a project rooted in the shared references and resonances between the work of two contemporary practices in the presence of history. If Besides, History is premised on impressions of one office’s work registered through(...)
Hall cases
1973: Sorry, Out of Gas
1973: Sorry, Out of Gas captures the architectural innovation spurred by the 1973 oil crisis, when the value of oil increased exponentially and triggered economic, political, and social upheaval across the world. Featuring over 350 objects including architectural drawings, photographs, books and pamphlets, archival television footage, and historical artefacts, it maps the(...)
7 November 2007 to 20 April 2008
1973: Sorry, Out of Gas
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Description:
1973: Sorry, Out of Gas captures the architectural innovation spurred by the 1973 oil crisis, when the value of oil increased exponentially and triggered economic, political, and social upheaval across the world. Featuring over 350 objects including architectural drawings, photographs, books and pamphlets, archival television footage, and historical artefacts, it maps the(...)