Less well known than Baltard or Haussmann, Henri Labrouste nevertheless left behind him some amazing buildings, most importantly the Sainte-Geneviève library and National Library…

Living in the same age as Delacroix and Victor Hugo, Labrouste managed to create spaces with incredible dimensions, where light played a very important role. The exhibition shows how the architect found new uses for the building materials of the time, especially iron, and explains his influence on many generations of architecte that followed.Linked to the exhibition are some urban walks (20th October, 24th November, 8th December), a cycle of films entitled ‘Paris in the age of Labrouste’, and visits of the Sainte Geneviève library (Mondays 19th November, 3rd & 17th December).

A catalogue has also been published (270 pages, 42€ here at amazon.fr).

The exhibition Labrouste (1801-1875), architecte. La structure mise en lumière (Labrouste – light in structure) is at the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine (here) until 7th January 2013

Open every day except Tuesdays from 11am – 7pm (9pm Thursdays). Ticket office closes 45 minutes earlier. Closed 25th December and 1st January

Admission : 8€ / 5€ for just the exhibition, 2€ more for the permanent collection too (a bargain!)

Official site (with not a hint of English on it): www.citechaillot.fr

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Our visit to the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine: here

Our article about the Sainte-Geneviève library: here