Influential Neo-Classical theorist.

Laugier was trained as a Jesuit priest andreceived a humanist education.

He wentto Paris in 1744 and gained a reputation asa critic and preacher.

But after beingunwittingly embroiled in political controversy he not only had to leave Paris butopted to leave the Jesuits and worked aseditor of the Gazette de France and in thediplomatic service.

Laugier was a prolificand successful writer but it is for his Essaisur @architecture (1753) that he is bestknown.

here had been various demands since the beginning of the century 
for areturn to a classical lucidity where the orders were 
functional rather than decorative.

It had long been understood that Greek architecture had evolved
from tim- ber structures,
but following the hints in VITRUVIUS 
Laugier postulated the primitive hut fashioned from branches
as the origin of the classical temple - to make a compelling 
image of the way in which "simple nature" and primitive antiquity
should be norms for the architect.


This combination of rationality and sophisticated yearning for 
rusticity iscentral to cl8 Neo-Classicism.

Laugier's essay was very widely read and influenced amongst
others SOUFFLOT and SOANE. For' LE CORBUSIER, Laugier's
primitive hut was afrequently quoted paradigm.

      Laugier,Marc-Antoine  was a jusuit priest and outstanding neo-classical theorist .

   His essai sur larchitectureExpounds a rationalist view of classical architecture as a truthful ,economic expression of man’s need for shelter,based on the hypothetical ‘rustic cabin’of primitive man.His ideal building would have free-standing columns.he condemned pilasters and pedestals and all renaissance and post-renaissance elements .his book put neo-classicism in a nutshell and had great influene,e.g.on

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