Louis-Auguste Couvrechef

Louis Auguste Léodar Couvrechef (1827–1858) was a French architect who served Napoleon III as architect for the imperial residences.

Louis Auguste Léodar Couvrechef
Born1827
Died1858
NationalityFrench
OccupationArchitect
Known forVilla Eugénie

Early life

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Louis Auguste Léodar Couvrechef was born in Mathieu, Calvados, in 1827.

Education

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He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.[1]

Career

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Couvrechef was made a sub-inspector under architect Hippolyte Durand on the project to build the Villa Eugénie in Biarritz as a summer residence for the imperial family, starting in 1854. Durand chose a rather austere design, and was abruptly dismissed in June 1855. Couvrechef, who was known to prefer a more decorative style, was given responsibility for continuing the work.[2]

In 1857 Couvrechef became architect of the Château de Pau.[3] Couvrechef was also involved in reconstruction of the Empress's Castillo de Arteaga in the province of Biscay in Spain, a medieval building surrounded by walls with four round towers.[4]

Death

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Couvrechef died in 1858 and was replaced as architect of the imperial residences by Gabriel-Auguste Ancelet.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Pénanrun, Delaire & Roux 1907, p. 223.
  2. ^ Granger 2005, p. 235-236.
  3. ^ a b Granger 2005, p. 253.
  4. ^ Granger 2005, p. 237.

Sources

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  • Granger, Catherine (2005). L'Empereur et les arts: la liste civile de Napoléon III. Librairie Droz. p. 235. ISBN 978-2-900791-71-4. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  • Pénanrun, Louis Thérèse David de; Delaire, Edmond Augustin; Roux, Louis François (1907). Les architectes élèves de l'Ecole des beaux-arts 1793-1907. École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts (France). Librairie de la construction moderne. p. 223. Retrieved 2013-06-14.