RR 10

beautiful industry

Salt Works of Chaux

[1800 CE]

Claude Nicholas Ledoux designed the Salt Works of Chaux from 1775 to 1779 that is located in eastern France between two villages near the Chaux forest, which is near Besancon.  the building was a factory that extracted salt from the brine, and replaced a factory that was very near to it, but was very small and didn't work nearly as well as Salt Works.  the forest supplied wood needed for that kilns that extracted the salt from the brine, which was then brought to the place it was originated.

"Ledoux's plan called for a semicircular arrangement of buildings, with the house of the director at the center and the salt-extracting buildings to both sides." (Ching)  the circumference of the semicircle consists of storage buildings, with the entrance directly across from the director's house.

salt was very expensive in France during the 18th century due to taxes, so Salt Works had to be very highly secured because people would try to steal or smuggle salt.

- entrance included a small prison and guardrooms.

- the round and square columns that make up the front of the director's house have been interpreted many different ways.

- "it seems that Ledoux wanted to show the column as if it were in the process of being formed." (Ching)  

- possibly the first architect-designed factory ever made.

while the Salt Works buildings are clearly industrial buildings, they appear as if they would be a church or possibly a government building.  it is interesting how much the director's house resembles the Pantheon.  they both have very plain exteriors with the same entrance of columns and triangular roof.  however, the Pantheon had a dome roof while Salt Works had a pyramid-like roof with a raised section at the top.  this was build during a time when everyone was trying to be different in terms of ideas, design, architect, and much more.  the square and circle columns on Salt  Works are probably the most interesting and dominant aspect of the building.  they draw your eye to that part of the building, which is different in comparison to the Pantheon, where the columns are very plain.

information from Ching
- I chose this picture to compare and contrast the Pantheon to Salt Works
http://www.valenciastonesarasota.com/stonehistory.html
- this picture shows the director's house and one of the side salt-extracting buildings
http://www.fotopedia.com/wiki/Claude_Nicolas_Ledoux
- this shows the plan of Salt Works
http://www.art.com/products/p12258505-sa-i1634300/claude-nicolas-ledoux-general-plan-of-the-salt-works-in-the-ideal-city-of-chaux.htm
- a good view of the columns
http://www.lodgephoto.com/blog/royal-salt-works-the-story-behind-the-picture/27/