Tony Garnier (architect)

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Main entrance to Halle Tony Garnier in Lyon

This page is for the architect. For the musician see Tony Garnier (musician)
Tony Garnier (August 13, 1869 Lyon January 19, 1948, Roquefort-la-Bdoule, France) was a
noted architect and city planner. He was most active in his hometown of Lyon. Garnier is considered the
forerunner of 20th century French architects.
Contents
[hide]

1 Biography
2 Selected
projects
3 Publications
4 References
5 External
links

[edit]Biography
After learning painting and drafting at the cole Technique de la Martinire in Lyon (1883-86), Garnier
studied architecture at the cole nationale des beaux-arts de Lyon (1886-89) and the cole nationale

suprieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris (1890-99). In 1899 he won thePrix de Rome for a design of a national
bank. The prize enabled him to reside at the Villa Medici in Rome for four years, until 1904.[1]
In 1901, after extensive study of sociological and architectural problems, he began to formulate an
elaborate solution to the perceived issues concerning urban design. His basic idea included the separation
of spaces by function through zoning into several categories: industrial, civic, residential, health related,
and entertainment. Garnier's drawings for an ideal industrial city called Une cit industrielle have been
exhibited in 1904 but only published later in 1918.[1]
Une Cit Industrielle was designed as an utopian form of living, for 35,000 inhabitants. It was located
between a mountain and a river to facilitate access to hydroelectric power. This plan was highly influenced
by the writings of Emile Zola, in particular his socialist utopian novel Travail (1901).[1] The plan allowed
schools and vocational-type schools to be near the industries they were related to, so that people could be
more easily educated. There were no churches or law enforcement buildings, in hope that man could rule
himself. The idea of functional separation was later taken up by the members of CIAM, and would
ultimately influence the design of cities like Brasilia.
In 1904 Garnier returned to Lyon, where he received a commission for a livestock market and
slaughterhouse (1906-24), later named Halle Tony Garnier. In 1910 he was commissioned for the design
of the Grange-Blanche Hospital, completed in 1927. Further projects included several villas, the Stade de
Gerland municipal stadium (1914-18) and the low-cost housing Quartier des Etats-Unis (1919-35).[1]
In the 1920s Garnier continued the work on several major projects started before the war. In 1939 he
moved from Lyon to Roquefort-la-Bdoule, where he died in 1948. [1]

[edit]Selected

projects

Tony Garnier: Une Cite Industrielle (1917)

Reviewed by Supriya Pundlik

Tony Garnier's Une Cite Industrialle is one of the most comprehensive ideal plans of all time.Published in
1917, it is not only an outstanding contribution to architectural and planning theories but also a sensitive
expression of thought and cultural conditions of its day. Dora Wiebenson's framing of the book focused on
the Cite s lesser-known role as a product of its cultural context, and as a bridge between nineteenth and
twentieth century planning and between academic and non-academic theories and techniques.

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN EUROPE

The end of the nineteenth century was a time of great change throughout Europe. The advent of
industrialisation altered the landscape of the city forever. Many of the changes were not for the better and
living conditions in industrial cities steadily deteriorated. The Industrial Revolution had the effect of
bringing more and more people from the countryside into the heart of the city looking for work. Such
dramatic over-population and unrestricted urban growth led to slum housing, dirt, disease and a lack of
communal green spaces within the city landscape. Modern urban planning arose in response to this
disorde. Reformation of these areas was the objective of the early city planners, who began to impose
regulatory laws establishing housing standards for housing, sanitation etc. Urban planners also

introduced parks, playground in city neighbourhoods, for recreation as well as visual relief. The notion of
zoning was a major concept of urban planning at this time.

WHO WAS TONY GARNIER?

Tony Garnier was a French architect born in Lyons in 1869 and it is clear that the city and surroundings
had a great influence on him. Whilst growing up Lyons was an industrial centre for textiles and
metallurgy, the two industries catered for by Garnier s proposal for his industrial city. Garnier studied at
the cole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and in 1901 won the prix de Rome competition and was sent to the
French Academy at the Villa Medici. It was here where Garnier started to formulate his proposal for the
Cit and in 1901 Garnier sent back the proposal to the cole. However, the cole refused to exhibit the
work and instead insisted that Garnier produce the work on classical and renaissance architecture.
Garnier continued to work on his proposal alongside more traditional work and was eventually able to
exhibit his work in 1904. Afterwards, Garnier continued to develop his plan culminating a two-volume
work published in 1917.

REGIONALISM
By the end of 19th century the theory of urbanism had expanded far beyond the unitarian and
geographical concerns to include the total regional context in which the city was situated. Major reports
on municipal reforms in the last part of the 19th century were made by individuals like Albert Shaw, who
basically stressed the organic relation of the city to the country and predicted their eventual integration.
These theories of regionalism attained their greatest popularity in England. Chief among them was
Pattrick Geddes (1854-1932). Garnier's philosophy in the Cite Indutrielle was similar to that of Geddes in
the emphasis on city decentralization, it being developed in relation to the industries, occupants and
customs of the surrounding region.
Geddes's theories were considered similar to those expressed by Ebenezer Howard with regard to his
Garden City. Two of Howard's basic assumptions were also stressed by Garnier: the emancipation of man
from the monotony of his labour in order to take on more fruitful occupations and the view that all men
are inherently cooperative and equal. The schemes are also related in such details as the inclusion of
electric energy, the emphasis on planting within the city and widely accepted 19 th century ideal of a
house and garden for each family.

In his preface to Une Cite Industrialle, Garnier specifically included most of the major elements of
contemporary regionalist theory; the Cite was to represent one of a federation of cities, among which a

bond would be created through emphasis on communication and exchange of goods. Local historical and
botanical museums for regional expositions and a school of arts and industries were to be included in this
project. Local crafts were to be taught. Nearby water power was to be used.
Deliberate proximity of the Railway Station to the old town to make it easy for the visitors, should be
understood as an interpretation of the regionalist theory of preserving and promoting an interest in local
monuments. However regionalism was never associated with socialism, and thus in this major
philosophical tenet the Cite industrialle doesn't conform to the regionalist thought. Individual imitative is
not stressed in the City, property is owned in common and public conveniences are maintained for benefit
of all. Garnier had worked in the workers quarte of the city, some of his later planning may reflect social
doctrines to which he was exposed while there. In his city employment services and free hostels as well as
meeting rooms were created for workers' syndicates that a socialist government is presupposed. Many
public facilities were provided like slaughter houses, flour mills etc, and equality to both sexes in
education etc.

SOCIAL UTOPIAN CONCEPTS

At the end of the 19th century it was believed that many social reforms could be achieved gradually
through moral and intellectual education leading to a future ideal state. Garnier believed in the basic
goodness of man :when asked why his city contained no law courts, police force stations, jail or church he
is said to have replied that the new society governed by socialist law would have no need of churches as
capitalism would be suppressed.
In the Utopias of this period, fundamental, natural and primitive conditions were stressed; the emphasis
on exercise, health, and physical well-being was a corollary to the awakening interest in natural life.
Garniers inclusion of a large public area for sports and spectacles in his city related to early utopian
philosophy, pagan antiquity and love for games.

LYONS BACKGROUND
Lyons had undergone extensive urban remodelling from mid 19 century. Here public schools began,
syndicates were formed, a new industrial quarter was planned. Reinforced concrete was used for
industries as well as housing. In 1894 the 15 th congress of the Societe Francaise Geographique met in
Lyons and established a program for the region, including construction of public utilities and dams. He
was emphatic about separating the functions of the city from each other in order to allow for independent
expansion, functional convenience and ease of transportation. Garnier stated in his preface that the siting
of the city was determined by the location of water, the source of power.

THE CONCEPT
Garnier s proposal was an industrial city for approx 35,000 inhabitants situated on a area in southeast
France on a plateau with high land and a lake to the north, a valley and river to the south. Une Cite
industrialle is a well coordinated and monumentally conceived plan placed in a park like setting where
both the classical spirit of the academic tradition and the primitive simplicity of utopian ideas is
demonstrated. In his proposal, Garnier tried to take into account all aspects of the city including
governmental, residential, manufacturing and agricultural practices. The various functions of the city
were clearly related, but separated from each other by location and patterns.

The public area at the heart of the city was grouped into 3 sections: administrative services and assembly
halls, muesum collections and sports facilities.
The residential area is made up of rectangular blocks running east-west which gives the city its
characteristic elongated form. The residential districts are the first attempt towards passive solar
architecture. Garnier had energy efficiency in mind as the city was to be powered by a hydroelectric
station with a dam which was located in the mountains along with the hospital.
The city was completed by a railroad d station to the east.

THE INFLUENCE OF JULIEN GAUDET

Garnier found a sympathetic point of view in the teaching of Julien Gaudet, a professor of architectural
theory at the Ecole. Guadet's concern with rational planning, based on axiality and clear articulation of the
separate parts of the building and his interest in the relationship of architecture to contemporary
functions. The programme for the Cite hospital is close to Gaudets analysis of hospital planning. Gaudet
favoured an arrangement of separate pavilions including separate building blocks for different functions.

ZONING
The main factory is located in the valley at the confluence of the stream and river. A railway passes
between the factory and the city, which is on a plateau, and further up are the medical facilities.

In the homes, the rooms should have at least one large window oriented south for the entry of sunlight
The land for the construction of the residential homes, are initially divided into 150 meters from east to
west and 30 meters from north to south, dividing into lots of 15 by 15 meters, with one side facing the
street.

Primary schools are scattered throughout neighbourhoods and in the northeast corner are the secondary
schools.

CONCLUSIONS

Garniers Cit Industrielle was never built but echoes of his vision can be seen in Lyon where the mayor
appointed him the city architect in 1905, a position he held until 1919. The most important work to
emerge from his Cit Industrielle was the large stockyards complex, the stadium, the Grange Blanche
Hospital and the housing project known as Les tats Unis. The most important connection of Garnier
with later planners is definitely through Le Corbusier. Le Corbusier was the first well-known architect to
discuss Garnier's work and possibly the reason why Garnier became known as a pioneer of modern
architecture and urban planning.
This is not to say that Garnier's vision of urban utopia is neither important nor successful. Much of what
he proposed is at the least relevant today and there is no doubt that at the time someone with Garnier's
vision was required to propose what he saw as a solution to the problems that faced society at that time.
This brings me back to the start, a utopia by its very nature is impossible to realise. Without people
proposing their visions of a Utopia there can be no progress as out of generous dreams come beneficial
realities.

In his praise, Edouard Herriot said:

This builder, this realistic person, was spontaneously human. His sensitivity was only equal to his
modesty. His culture proved to be often surprising. Indeed, Tony Garnier was a master, with all the
nobleness and intelligence included in this word. A master, which means a guide and an example But
the Man was as admirable as the scholar; his moral qualities were equal to his genius.