Visiting Scholar Seminar: Gregorio Carboni Maestri
Portugal: Architecture, Tendenza, Revolution
Visiting Scholar Gregorio Carboni Maestri presents his research. From the 1930s to the late 1980s, Portuguese architecture was formed through a frustrated relationship with modernity and through a crucial dialogue with Italy. This talk addresses how Portuguese architecture observed and reacted to Italian models such as rationalism in the 1930s, postwar neorealism, and(...)
Shaughnessy House Keyword(s):
Gregorio Carboni Maestri, Visiting Scholar, Portugal, Tendenza
3 August 2017, 6pm
Visiting Scholar Seminar: Gregorio Carboni Maestri
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Description:
Visiting Scholar Gregorio Carboni Maestri presents his research. From the 1930s to the late 1980s, Portuguese architecture was formed through a frustrated relationship with modernity and through a crucial dialogue with Italy. This talk addresses how Portuguese architecture observed and reacted to Italian models such as rationalism in the 1930s, postwar neorealism, and(...)
Shaughnessy House Keyword(s):
Gregorio Carboni Maestri, Visiting Scholar, Portugal, Tendenza
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
The exhibition Robert Burley: The Disappearance of Darkness presents a series of photographs by Canadian artist Robert Burley, documenting the decline of traditional photographic equipment manufacturing brought on by new technologies. Since 2005, digital photographic technology has increasingly displaced its analog predecessor, resulting in a plummeting demand for(...)
Hall cases
11 September 2009 to 15 November 2009
Robert Burley: The Disappearance of Darkness
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Description:
The exhibition Robert Burley: The Disappearance of Darkness presents a series of photographs by Canadian artist Robert Burley, documenting the decline of traditional photographic equipment manufacturing brought on by new technologies. Since 2005, digital photographic technology has increasingly displaced its analog predecessor, resulting in a plummeting demand for(...)
Hall cases
research
Visiting Scholars 1999–2000
Theme: The Baroque Phenomenon beyond Rome: Mark Dorrian, Department of Architecture, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Topic: Baroque Deformation Martina Frank, Department of History, Università degli studi di Udine, Italy Topic: Luca Danesi et le baroque vénitien Indra McEwen, National Theatre School of Canada, Montreal, Canada Subject: The State of(...)
January 2000 to August 2000
Visiting Scholars 1999–2000
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Description:
Theme: The Baroque Phenomenon beyond Rome: Mark Dorrian, Department of Architecture, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Topic: Baroque Deformation Martina Frank, Department of History, Università degli studi di Udine, Italy Topic: Luca Danesi et le baroque vénitien Indra McEwen, National Theatre School of Canada, Montreal, Canada Subject: The State of(...)
research
January 2000 to
August 2000
Herzog de Meuron: Archaeology of the Mind presents an exhaustive display of materials from the architects’ archive and from related collections. Referencing a natural history, the exhibition includes study models, books, photographs, toys, fossils, Chinese scholars’ rocks, and significant works of contemporary art, all of which have informed the thinking of the Swiss(...)
Main galleries
23 October 2002 to 6 April 2003
Herzog & de Meuron: Archaeology of the Mind
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Description:
Herzog de Meuron: Archaeology of the Mind presents an exhaustive display of materials from the architects’ archive and from related collections. Referencing a natural history, the exhibition includes study models, books, photographs, toys, fossils, Chinese scholars’ rocks, and significant works of contemporary art, all of which have informed the thinking of the Swiss(...)
Main galleries
Mies in America
A profound thinker, painstaking artist, and one of the greatest architects in history, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1938, when he was already in his fifties and one of the recognized masters of his profession. Transplanted from the Bauhaus (of which he was the last director) to a technical institute in Chicago, from the European(...)
Main galleries
17 October 2001 to 20 January 2002
Mies in America
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Description:
A profound thinker, painstaking artist, and one of the greatest architects in history, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1938, when he was already in his fifties and one of the recognized masters of his profession. Transplanted from the Bauhaus (of which he was the last director) to a technical institute in Chicago, from the European(...)
Main galleries
articles
Caption This
Critical Cataloguing, Photography Collection, China, Peking, Beijing, Lebanon, Beirut, Captions, Social Media
27 November 2023
Caption This
Shukri Sultan and Endriana Audisho, Julia Ramos, and Jacqueline Tran on the stories constructed by the collection, documentation, cataloguing, and sharing of photography
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3 May 2018
Learning from… Toronto
Ian Chodikoff, architect, urban designer, and editor of Canadian Architect magazine, presents his research on the contemporary suburb and how the influences of ethnic diversity and multiculturalism affect architecture and urban design within the suburban landscape across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Today’s suburbs are more ethnically diverse, globally connected and(...)
Paul Desmarais Theatre
4 March 2010 , 7pm
Learning from… Toronto
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Description:
Ian Chodikoff, architect, urban designer, and editor of Canadian Architect magazine, presents his research on the contemporary suburb and how the influences of ethnic diversity and multiculturalism affect architecture and urban design within the suburban landscape across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Today’s suburbs are more ethnically diverse, globally connected and(...)
Paul Desmarais Theatre
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
AP167
Synopsis:
The ONL [Oosterhuis_Lénárd] NSA Muscle project records, 1995-2013, contain approximately 5,000 digital working files for the NSA Muscle, a built prototype commissioned for the Non-Standard Architecture exhibition at the Centre George Pompidou in Paris in 2003. The NSA Muscle is a programmable structure that changes its shape and content in real time. The records are entirely digital, and include administrative files, CAD files, Virtools files, publicity materials and photographs. They document the planning, design development, construction and exhibition of the NSA Muscle and related projects.
1995-2013
ONL [Oosterhuis_Lénárd] NSA Muscle project records
Actions:
AP167
Synopsis:
The ONL [Oosterhuis_Lénárd] NSA Muscle project records, 1995-2013, contain approximately 5,000 digital working files for the NSA Muscle, a built prototype commissioned for the Non-Standard Architecture exhibition at the Centre George Pompidou in Paris in 2003. The NSA Muscle is a programmable structure that changes its shape and content in real time. The records are entirely digital, and include administrative files, CAD files, Virtools files, publicity materials and photographs. They document the planning, design development, construction and exhibition of the NSA Muscle and related projects.
archives
Level of archival description:
Fonds
1995-2013