Beaux Arts

By 1914 the design of Canadian federal buildings and banks was generally dictated by Beaux-Arts architecture and represented the refinement and principles of the aristocracy at the time. The name comes from the premier school of architecture in the late 19th century, France’s École des Beaux Arts, and essentially means ‘fine arts’. The style is inspired by ideas from the French Renaissance and features symmetrical plans and an eclectic use of architectural attributes. The massive, often ostentatious buildings generally have classical columned façades, but were an elaborate contrast to the ascetic ‘temple-front’ designs seen elsewhere in North America.

The Beaux Arts movement greatly influenced architectural education especially in the formal planning of architectural geography. It was a significant impetus for the City Beautiful movement prevalent at the turn of the century. Edmonton’s planned suburbs like Glenora and Groat Estates which feature parklike settings and grand houses on vast boulevards exemplify this trend.