Metallic architecture

Metal began being used in architecture and civil engineering in the late 18th century and its use progressed during the Industrial Revolution, when iron and cast iron production soared. The design and practice of architecture was dramatically transformed.

One of the first examples in France was the reconstruction of the cupola of the Corn exchange building that had been destroyed by fire in 1802. Architect François-Joseph Bélanger and engineer François Brunet were commissioned to rebuild the roof and by 1811 a new cupola made of iron covered with copper leaves shined above the building. In 1838 the copper was replaced by glass. The use of these materials was cutting edge, but even Victor Hugo showed no appreciation for it, qualifying the cupola as “a jockey’s cap”. Closed in 1873, the building was allocated to the Chamber of Commerce in 1885 and was transformed into the Commodity market by architect Henri Blondel who covered it with stone.

The first metal bridge to be built in Paris was the Pont des Art, between 1801 and 1804, during the First Consul. It received much more praise.

At first used to reinforce stone structures, metal soon became the key element in building covered markets, train stations, covered galleries, large pavilions in the World Fairs and all transitory constructions.

By order of Napoleon II, architect Victor Baltard created right in the center of Paris covered markets to facilitate commerce: twelve pavilions built in cast iron, iron and glass were erected between 1850 and 1870.

For the London World Fair of 1851 Joseph Paxton built the Crystal Palace - a giant greenhouse of 3800 tons of cast iron, 700 tones of iron. The light, the modular industrial surfaces gained a following. Imitations flourished all over the world and the Galleries des Machines of the 1889 Paris World Fair echoes the Crystal Palace’s accomplishments taking them further: architect Ferdinand Dutert and engineer Victor Contamin managed a record vault span of 420 meters long , 115 meters wide and 45 meters high. The Eiffel tower was built for the same Fair. However the aesthetics of this architecture was not yet accepted by the mainstream. The iron structures and glass roofs were still hidden behind what was considered more noble stone façades, as in the Grand and Petit Palais.

Cast iron easily takes all shapes and forms and adapts to different stylistic needs. Pierre Vignon chose this material to cover the roof of the strictly Neo-classical Madeleine church in Paris (1807-1845). The lean cast iron columns offered technical possibilities as well as a new aesthetic. Henri Labrouste used molded cast iron, adorned with stylized motifs for the high light structure of the Sainte-Geneviève library in Paris (1842-1850). He used the same technique when he built the reading hall of the National Library between 1859 and 1868, using a Basilica type plan with a central nave, two side aisles and zenithal daylight.

In Europe, the Art nouveau style will elevate the use of iron and cast iron to an art form.

At the end of the 19^th century the School of Chicago, with its leader Louis Sullivan developed autonomous architectural forms using iron, which gave birth to the skyscraper.

• Photo 1: Corn Exchange rebuilt by Bélanger and Brunet. 2^nd half of 19th century.
• Photo 2: Paris Covered markets “les Halles” by Victor Baltard.
• Photo 3: The Gallerie des Machines, 1889 Paris World’s Fair.
• Photo 4: Metal covering of the reading hall of Sainte-Geneviève library by Labrouste.