Viollet Le Duc, Ruskin, Semper

If there was one word that described the architecture of in the 19^th century it would be, chaotic. Architects across the world had drastically different beliefs. The 19^th century begins to mark the end of the gothic architecture. Steel begins to be introduced. Some architects take hold of this wonderful material, but other architects, seem to have a much harder time willing to make the change and feel as if they would be sinning if they used these materials. On the opposite side of the spectrum you have people taking steel for what it is and let it mold their style and let it influence their designs. Some of their names are John Ruskin, Eugene Viollet Le Duc, and Gottfried Semper. These men all had different views of how architecture was to be designed.

Eugene Viollet Le Duc was a man who embraced change. Le Duc was mostly known for his restorations. He had studied architecture and its history for many years and was a man of reason. He had seen so many projects he believed he could interpret what the original architect was trying to do with a building. When Viollet Le Duc was given a project to restore he would not only restore the project, he would update it. He would analyze what the architect meant to do and he would make it better, at least in his eyes. The biggest example of this was Saint-Chappelle in France. Le Duc really liked bringing steel into his projects. He realized what it could do. He looked at the material for what it was, a way to span much further distances.

Saint-Chappelle

John Ruskin was a very stubborn man. He wasn’t one who simply accepted change. He liked things to stay the same. This was also true in his architecture. He would rather a building set as it be and collapse than restore it. Ruskin didn’t want to include steel; he didn’t want these new innovations to “ruin” gothic architecture. He wanted to keep the craftsmanship. Ruskin was a man of emotions, not form. That is why he came up with the Seven Lamps. The Seven Lamps were Sacrifice, Truth, Power, Beauty, Life, Memory, and Obedience. He created the seven lamps to describe what requirements good architecture at the time must meet. This begins to show what kind of a man he was.

Gottfried Semper, shared a lot of qualities with both Ruskin and Viollet Le Duc. Semper was also a rationalist but, he followed the steps of Ruskin with the very ornamental designs. Semper’ book The Four Elements of Architecture really begin to display the way he thought of architecture. The four elements are the hearth, the roof, the enclosure, and the mound. To Semper the hearth was the most important. The hearth is the materials. Semper believed architecture was truly found in the materials and the ability to use them correctly.

Semper Opera House

These men led the thoughts and minds of many people during this time. They also had just as many people disagreeing with them at the time. Today, we can see where these men were coming from. We can see why Ruskin didn’t want change and why Viollet Le Duc did. We can even see what Semper really wanted was to master materials. The Gothic Revival existed because of these men; their ambitions and beliefs.