France: Modern Architectures in History [Paperback]

Everyone knows Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the chateaux of the Loire Valley, but French architects have also produced some of the most iconic buildings of the twentieth century, playing a central role in the emergence and development of modernism. InFrance, Jean-Louis Cohen presents a complete narrative of the unfolding architectural modernity in the country, grappling not only with the buildings but also with the political and critical context surrounding them.
???????????
Cohen examines the developments in urban design and architecture within France, depicting the continuities and breaks in French architecture since 1900 against a broader international background. Describing the systems of architectural exchange with other countriesincluding Italy, Germany, Russia, and the United Stateshe offers a new view on the ideas, projects, and buildings otherwise so often considered only from narrow nationalistic perspectives. Cohen also maps the problematic search for a national identity against the background of European rivalries and Frances colonial past. Drawing on a wealth of recent research, this authoritatively written book will challenge the way design professionals and historians view modern French architecture.?

Jean-Louis Cohenis the Sheldon H. Solo Chair for the History of Architecture at New York Universitys Institute for Fine Arts. He is the author, most recently, ofLe Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscapes.Christian Hubertis an architect and associate professor at Parsons New School for Design in New York.

Introduction

1. From Ironmade Wonders to Storms of Steel, 1889-1918

2. An Elitist Modernity, 1918-40

3. Social Reform and Modernity, 1918-40

4. War and Reconstruction, 1940-50

5. Languages and Techniques for High Growth, 1950-65

6. State-driven Modernization, 1950-65

7. Catharsis and Renewal, 1965-81