Abstract

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. In France, 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 countries—including Italy, Germany, Russia, and the United States—he 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 France’s 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. 

“Cohen, who is French, has taught in his native country and the US and has published extensively on modern architecture; he has done an excellent job of charting developments over the last century and a quarter. . . . The resulting overall survey effectively captures the whole range of buildings, trends, educational developments, technological developments, and publications over this period. Recommended not only for students, specialists, and practitioners but also for general readers looking for a comprehensive survey of the subject.”
  — Choice
Jean-Louis Cohen is the Sheldon H. Solo Chair for the History of Architecture at New York University’s Institute for Fine Arts. He is the author, most recently, of Le Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscapes. Christian Hubert is an architect and associate professor at Parsons New School for Design in New York.