A tribute in stone and street, Avenue Perronet carries a weighty legacy. This avenue bears the name of Jean-Rodolphe Perronet. He was an influential French architect and engineer. Let’s uncover the story behind this dedication.
Jean-Rodolphe Perronet entered the world on October 27, 1708. He was born in Suresnes, a suburb of Paris. His father was a Swiss guardsman. At 17, Perronet began his architectural journey. He apprenticed with Jean Beausire. Beausire was the “first architect” of Paris.
Perronet initially oversaw Paris’s grand sewer system. He also managed embankment works. His energy in Alençon caught the eye of Trudaine. Trudaine was in charge of roads. In 1736, he put Perronet in charge of training surveyors. These surveyors would staff the Bridges and Embankments department. In 1737, Perronet became an engineer in Alençon.
Avenue Perronet’s namesake truly excelled in bridge design. He mastered the art of the low-arch stone bridge. His designs graced France with elegance and efficiency. Perronet discovered that elliptical arches distributed thrust to the bridge’s ends. This knowledge allowed him to design flatter arches. These arches used less material and allowed for wider waterways.
Perronet’s achievements led to royal recognition. He was named premier ingénieur du roi in 1763. In 1765, he became a member of the Académie des sciences. Besides bridges, he wrote about fire engines for the Encyclopédie. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences elected him a foreign member in 1772.
In 1747, Perronet directed the Royal office of designers. He was tasked to train bridge and road engineers. The office later became the École des ponts et chaussées. Perronet was a spiritual father to his students. He used modern teaching methods.
Among Perronet’s thirteen bridges, some stand out. The Pont de Neuilly was completed in 1772. It was often called the most graceful stone bridge ever built. The Pont Sainte-Maxence followed in 1785. The Pont de la Concorde, finished in 1791, still stands today. He began the Pont de la Concorde when he was 80 years old. He kept working on it despite the French Revolution.
The Pont de Neuilly featured five spans of nearly 130 feet each. The piers were only 13 feet thick. This made it look light and open. King Louis XV wanted the wooden scaffold removed all at once. The bridge stood for 170 years. It was replaced in 1942 by a larger structure.
Perronet passed away in Paris in 1794. He was 85 years old. Beyond bridges, he constructed 2500 km of tree-lined roads. He also worked on the Canal de l’Yvette.
So, as you walk along Avenue Perronet, remember Jean-Rodolphe Perronet. He shaped France’s landscape. He left behind a legacy of engineering brilliance. His bridges were testaments to his genius. This avenue serves as a lasting tribute to his remarkable contributions.