Louis M. Cordonnier
Encyclopedia
Louis-Marie Cordonnier (July 7, 1854, Haubourdin
, Nord – 1940) was a French architect
, born in Haubourdin
and associated principally with Lille
and the French Flanders
region.
in Paris. He returned to Lille for his first major commission, the 1881 town hall of Loos
. His chosen style was a strongly regional Flemish Renaissance Revival in brick, with a characteristic belfry tower.
Further civic commissions in the area culminated in Cordonnier's best known work, the Peace Palace
in The Hague
, seat of the International Court of Justice
. There his neo-Flemish entry won a design competition
against far more modern competitors like Hendrik Berlage
and Otto Wagner
. The jury's choice proved controversial enough to fuel lawsuits for seven years.
Cordonnier alternated his regional Flemish style with occasional essays in the neo-classical Beaux-Arts style so prevalent in Paris during these years. In Lille the architect's Flemish Chamber of Commerce building of 1910-1921 stands twenty paces away from his Beaux-Arts Opéra de Lille
of 1903-1914, its design said to be inspired by Garnier's Paris Opera
.
In the wake of the widespread destruction of World War I
in this part of France, Cordonnier took the lead in efforts to rebuild civic buildings and local churches in strictly traditional style, although not averse to using structural concrete. Towards the end of his career he was joined in practice by his son, Louis-Stanislas Cordonnier (1884–1960).
Haubourdin
-References:*...
, Nord – 1940) was a French architect
French architecture
The history of French architecture runs in parallel with its neighbouring countries in Europe, with France being home to both some of the earliest pioneers in many architectural styles, and also containing some of the finest architectural creations of the continent.-Roman:The architecture of...
, born in Haubourdin
Haubourdin
-References:*...
and associated principally with Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
and the French Flanders
French Flanders
French Flanders is a part of the historical County of Flanders in present-day France. The region today lies in the modern-day region of Nord-Pas de Calais, the department of Nord, and roughly corresponds to the arrondissements of Lille, Douai and Dunkirk on the Belgian border.-Geography:French...
region.
Biography
Son of the architect Jean-Baptiste Cordonnier (1820–1902), Cordonnier studied at the Ecole des Beaux-ArtsÉcole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts is the distinguished National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France.The École des Beaux-arts is made up of a vast complex of buildings located at 14 rue Bonaparte, between the quai Malaquais and the rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près,...
in Paris. He returned to Lille for his first major commission, the 1881 town hall of Loos
Loos, Nord
-References:* -External links:*...
. His chosen style was a strongly regional Flemish Renaissance Revival in brick, with a characteristic belfry tower.
Further civic commissions in the area culminated in Cordonnier's best known work, the Peace Palace
Peace Palace
The Peace Palace is a building situated in The Hague, Netherlands. It is often called the seat of international law because it houses the International Court of Justice , the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Hague Academy of International Law, and the extensive Peace Palace Library.In addition...
in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, seat of the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
. There his neo-Flemish entry won a design competition
Architectural design competition
An architectural design competition is a special type of competition in which an organization or government body that plans to build a new building asks for architects to submit a proposed design for a building. The winning design is usually chosen by an independent panel of design professionals...
against far more modern competitors like Hendrik Berlage
Hendrik Petrus Berlage
thumb|120px|left|BerlageHendrik Petrus Berlage, Amsterdam, 21 February 1856 — The Hague 12 August 1934, was a prominent Dutch architect.-Overview:...
and Otto Wagner
Otto Wagner
Otto Koloman Wagner was an Austrian architect and urban planner, known for his lasting impact on the appearance of his home town Vienna, to which he contributed many landmarks.-Life:...
. The jury's choice proved controversial enough to fuel lawsuits for seven years.
Cordonnier alternated his regional Flemish style with occasional essays in the neo-classical Beaux-Arts style so prevalent in Paris during these years. In Lille the architect's Flemish Chamber of Commerce building of 1910-1921 stands twenty paces away from his Beaux-Arts Opéra de Lille
Opéra de Lille
The Opéra de Lille is a theater-style neo-classical opera house, built from 1907 to 1913 and officially inaugurated in 1923.In 1903 fire destroyed the previous Lille opera house, which had been designed by Lille architect Michael Joseph Lequeux and built in 1785. For the replacement city officials...
of 1903-1914, its design said to be inspired by Garnier's Paris Opera
Palais Garnier
The Palais Garnier, , is an elegant 1,979-seat opera house, which was built from 1861 to 1875 for the Paris Opera. It was originally called the Salle des Capucines because of its location on the Boulevard des Capucines in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, but soon became known as the Palais Garnier...
.
In the wake of the widespread destruction of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in this part of France, Cordonnier took the lead in efforts to rebuild civic buildings and local churches in strictly traditional style, although not averse to using structural concrete. Towards the end of his career he was joined in practice by his son, Louis-Stanislas Cordonnier (1884–1960).
Work
His work includes:- the Opéra de LilleOpéra de LilleThe Opéra de Lille is a theater-style neo-classical opera house, built from 1907 to 1913 and officially inaugurated in 1923.In 1903 fire destroyed the previous Lille opera house, which had been designed by Lille architect Michael Joseph Lequeux and built in 1785. For the replacement city officials...
, built 1903-1914 - Notre-Dame-de-Lille Pellevoisin, Lille, 1906–1911
- the Peace PalacePeace PalaceThe Peace Palace is a building situated in The Hague, Netherlands. It is often called the seat of international law because it houses the International Court of Justice , the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Hague Academy of International Law, and the extensive Peace Palace Library.In addition...
in The HagueThe HagueThe Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, 1907–1913 - series of seaside mansions and villas at Neufchâtel-HardelotNeufchâtel-HardelotNeufchâtel-Hardelot is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Neufchâtel-Hardelot is a farming and tourist town of forests, golf courses and beaches, situated some south of Boulogne, at the junction of the D940, D308 and D215 roads...
, circa 1908-1912 - Chamber of Commerce de Lille, 1910–1921
- basilica and memorial building, Notre Dame de LoretteNotre Dame de LoretteNotre Dame de Lorette is the name of a ridge, basilica, and French national cemetery northwest of Arras at the village of Ablain-Saint-Nazaire...
war cemetery, 1921–1927 - the Basilica of St. Thérèse, Lisieux, the second-largest pilgrimage site in France, after LourdesLourdesLourdes is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in south-western France.Lourdes is a small market town lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees, famous for the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes occurred in 1858 to Bernadette Soubirous...
, 1923–1959 - Church of St. Vaast, BéthuneBéthuneBéthune is a city in northern France, sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department.-Geography:Béthune is located in the former province of Artois. It is situated South-East of Calais, West of Lille, and North of Paris.-Landmarks:...
, 1924–1927 - Church of St. Vaast, BailleulBailleul- France :*Bailleul, Nord, in the Nord département*Bailleul, Orne, in the Orne département*Bailleul, Somme, in the Somme département*Bailleul-aux-Cornailles, in the Pas-de-Calais département*Bailleul-la-Vallée, in the Eure département...
, 1935 - Grands bureaux de la Société des Mines headquarters, in Lens, Pas-de-CalaisLens, Pas-de-CalaisLens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...
, with landscape architect Achille DuchêneAchille DuchêneAchille Duchêne was a French garden designer who worked in the grand manner established by André Le Nôtre. The son of the landscaper...
, 1928–1930, now part of Artois UniversityArtois UniversityArtois University is a French university, based in Arras. It is under the umbrella of the Academy of Lille and is a member of the .-See also:* List of public universities in France by academy... - four of the Belfries of Belgium and FranceBelfries of Belgium and FranceThe Belfries of Belgium and France is a group of 56 historical buildings designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Site, in recognition of an architectural manifestation of emerging civic independence in historic Flanders and neighbouring regions from feudal and religious influences, leading to a...
designated by UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
as a World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage SiteA UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. Of the 23 such municipal towers within Nord-Pas-de-Calais and the SommeSommeSomme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
, Cordonnier designed those in LoosLoos, Nord-References:* -External links:*...
, Dunkirk, Comines, and ArmentièresArmentièresArmentières is a commune in the Nord department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France. It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole, and lies on the Belgian border, northwest of the city of Lille, on the right bank of the river Lys....
.