ARCHITECTURE AS SIMULACRUM

THIS WEEK’S TEXT IS “THE BEAUBOURG-EFFECT: IMPLOSION AND DETERRENCE” BY JEAN BAUDRILLARD (SPRING, 1983) JEAN BAUDRILLARD ON THE POMPIDOU CENTER Jean Baudrillard (1929 – 6 March 2007) was a French sociologist, philosopher, cultural theorist, political commentator, and photographer. Frequently associated postmodernism, more specifically post-structuralism and he is best known for his analyses of media, contemporary […]

LEDOUX’S VISIONARY ARCHITECTURE & SOCIAL UTOPIA

FROM SALT WORKS TO IDEAL CITY. LEDOUX’S FIRST DESIGN FOR CHAUX VERSUS HIS SECOND DESIGN.  CLAUDE NICOLAS LEDOUX (1736 – 1806) Ledoux was one of the earliest exponents of French Neoclassical architecture. He was architect to Madame Du Barry (Louis XV’s mistress and former prostitute), numerous Parisian clients, to royal tax collectors, Ferme Générale. Accused […]