The Impossible Architecture of Étienne-Louis Boullée

Some architects have ensured a place in history by designing iconic buildings that shape our cities. Others, like Étienne-Louis Boullée became famous precisely for their designs that were never realized. Taking inspiration from pure geometric forms, Boullée designed visionary buildings on an enormous scale that made up the necessary institutions for an ideal, utopian society. His works anticipated the futurism of the 20th century, and went on to inspire architects in the post-war period.

→ MUSIC

Symphony No.104 in D major, 'London' Hob.I:104 - I. Adagio - Allegro - Franz Joseph Haydn

Rondo No. 3 in A Minor, K. 511 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Gloria laus - Emerico Lobo de Mesquita

Coetus in excelsis - Emerico Lobo de Mesquita

Symphony No.29 in A major, K.201/186a - II. Andante - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98 - II. Andante Moderato - Johannes Brahms

Concerto for 2 Trumpets in C major, RV. 537 (Rondeau arr.) - II. Grave - Antonio Vivaldi

I. Adagio, Allegro - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Symphony No. 38 in D major 'Prague', K. 504 - II. Andante - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

→ SOURCES

"Architecture, essai sur l'art" - Étienne-Louis Boullée

[SeverusFelix]

"They were impossible to build. This inspires architects to this day." That tracks.

[hugodesrosiers-plaisance]

His architecture is like Ancient Rome meets HP Lovecraft. Absolutely spectacular.

[Hawk]

He's a master, but I can't help but feel many of his designs feel depressingly dystopic. The "repulsive beauty" of the erupting volcano is intense.

[Auriorium]

All of his buildings are stunning. I would love to see them built even if at a much smaller scale.

[Meekmillan]

It’s 4am and I’m crying because a French guy made some really big and really pretty buildings.

[jelleaux]

You are literally the only channel that manages to cover all of my weird niche interests! Thank you so much, I couldn't find many good quality videos covering Boullée’s work, which is crazy as you'd assume his grandiose visions would feature very often in architectural discussions.

[randyjones]

What would be awesome is if a digital artist turned these designs into full scale virtual reality simulations people could tour in cyberspace using VR glasses.

[untruelie]

The scale of these buildings is incredible. I don't know if Boulée intended this or not, but they look very imposing - the individual becomes almost insignificant. This reminds me of the designs Albert Speer created for Hitler's megalomanical building projects (like the "World Capital Germania" Berlin was meant to become). I don't know if Speer knew of Boulée's work, but there are are some uncanny similarities between their designs (for example, the "German Stadium" at the (Nazi) Party Rally Grounds in Nuremberg is similar to Boulée's Colosseum). Interesting and also macabre how two diametral approaches can lead to very similar results.

[varolussalsanclar]

There is something about this period from 1700 to pre industrialisation (around 1840) that seems to have inspired the most majestic and awe inspiring works of of art since the times of antiquity. From the music of Vivaldi, Bach, and later Mozart and Beethoven to architecture like this.

[KRAFTWERKK]

As a janitor i'd be constantly asking "HOW the freaking hell do you even HEAT these places?".

[tommyfishhouse]

I think Kentaro Miura might have been inspired by Boullees art. I remember seeing these sort of massive buildings during the Falconia arc of Berserk.

[ethribin]

The perfect example of "I wanted to be an artist, had to learn architecrure, so am doing art in architecture now."

[SlapShotRegatta]

Boullee’s designs are awe inspiring and stretch limits of the imagination. They truly elevate the human soul. Where can one find a collection of Boullee’s work oniline?

[pectenmaximus]

Some related things:

-Baths of Diocletian (epic in scale and actually existed)
-Tower of Babel series by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (and indeed the Tower was a subject also for contemporaries of Etienne-Louis Boulee, who tended to enjoy portraying the tower in precise and dizzying depictions)
-The works of the romantic painter John Martin, who painted buildings of similar scale and detail

[DracoFroggo]

I wish at least one of these designs ended up being built. I'm always fascinated by the concept of inconceivably massive structures that aren't just "skyscraper but more taller"

[Shiranova]

I've always been really impressed by Boullée's imagination and designs. Thank you very much for laying them out to us so clearly.

[Satellite_Of_Love]

Imagine a mind like this working not only on architecture on Earth, but potential extraterrestrial architecture for humanity.

[Pisolithus]

This reminds me of dune, the author describes huge constructs and cities stretching for kilometers with walls scraping the sky and buildings adorned with windows longer than semi trucks

[assemblyrequired]

In a way, it feels like Etienne-Louis Boullee was way ahead of his time. His mode of thinking was not whether something was financially viable to design, so much as whether or not it could be designed. And his designs with the trees and the use of spheres and rings is just something that I really appreciate.

I think that Boullee would have been right at home on the concept art team for films like Tomorrowland, or on the design team for places like Marina Bay in Singapore.

[heyguysinternet]

It is worth noting that Boullée's architecture is radical -- at least insofar as imaginary architecture can be considered such -- not only for its scale and austerity, but also for its emphasis on voids. This reflects the profound post-Newtonian shift in the perception of space, and the universe, wherein the cosmos, now a cold vacuum, was no longer representable by the florid profusion of baroque design but rather by absences enclosed by stark geometric forms. This is one of those key details which helps to contextualize Boullée's work within a new paradigmatic climate.