Architectural Ground Plan 1755 - 1808

Editor: So, here we have Paul Guillaume Lemoine’s "Architectural Ground Plan," dating from somewhere between 1755 and 1808. It's a drawing, a print, and of course, architecture—all those lines and shapes. It's very precise, geometric and rigid, giving me a sense of formality. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: Well, the rigor you’re picking up on—that's Neoclassicism in action. But to me, it feels almost dreamlike, like a temple plan remembered rather than seen. Lemoine is playing with a kind of platonic ideal. It's fascinating how these academic drawings attempt to capture a perfect form, isn't it? Editor: It is, especially when you think of all the imperfections in actual buildings. It's interesting to consider how different it is to conceptualise art with purely geometric form in architecture, versus visual art using drawing or paintings. What sort of context influenced this particular architect? Curator: The Enlightenment! It was all about reason and order, digging up the Classical past and thinking: ‘Yes! This! This is what civilized society should look like.' Think Roman forums, Greek temples… And you can see that echoed in the severe symmetry of the plan, can’t you? That central axis. Does that evoke anything for you? Editor: Absolutely, the axis is central, almost like… well, the architectural ground plan seems like the basis for something, something fundamental and permanent, like the root for future expansions that have branched out beyond its original conceptual blueprint. Curator: Precisely! It's an exploration of first principles. Looking at Lemoine's process is the beginning to see potential ideas within ourselves. Editor: This ground plan and Neoclassical idea seems both grand and a little restricting at the same time. It is one interesting ground plan! Curator: True, a springboard and cage for our imaginations. Now go build something.