Créer un atlas numérique de l'architecture publique en France (1795-1840) : éditorialisation d'une base de données en histoire de l'art
This master's thesis entails in the creation of a digital atlas of public architecture in France during the first half of the XIXth century. The Council of Civil Buildings, the public institution in charge of civil architecture after the revolution, had as aim to build the Republic. Thus, their architectural project takes on a symbolic function, the inscription of power into space, as well as the function to control the public space. A rationalisation and codification of the architectural practice, as well a mindset structured by the advancements in cartography and statistics, form in order to build a territory mirroring the new nation-state. Derived from the analysis of the Coucil’s sessions’ reports between 1795 and 1840, the CONBAVIL database presents the opportunity to study Council’s work through a spatial and quantitative approach uniting territory, knowledge, and power. After a critical analysis of its contents, the editorialisation of CONBAVIL takes the shape of as a web application. This research tool maps and visualizes this data using the D3.js code library. The multiple forms of representation, whose interactivity multiply their analytical potential, aim to reveal a new understanding of the political and architectural doings of the Council of Civil Buildings. The digital dimension of the atlas will allow a visual, multidimensional and hyperlinked explora-tion of the CONBAVIL data, until now only accessible through a form and as static records. Thus this research explores the potential of editorialising a database into a digital atlas for a visual epistemology in art history.
France Public architecture XIXth century Digital cartography Digital humanities