As of Antiquity, the Egyptians drew up, for the construction of obelisks (1) brick slopes supported by the foundations of the temples.
At the Middle
Ages, the scaffolding could consist of wood assemblies attached to the walls
by anchoring holes (2).
Constructions were assembled using scaffolds which were held with the masonry
and made as the building work progressed. One thus reserved the place for holes
which were filled thereafter (3).
"The scaffolding the trace of which exists on the walls of the keep
of Coucy is really only a passage for shifting heavy loads"
(Translated from the Rational Dictionary of French Architecture)
The scaffolding could also be mobile independent towers, or hanging scaffolds,
suspended on the building by cords.
Then the emergence of metal in the 20th century will result in it gradually
replacing wood (4)
However
the scaffolding could formerly find a strong symbolic significance system with
the Parisian cathedral Notre Dame: the installation of its great bell was marked
by the celebration of a ceremonial mass and a popular festival. The scaffolding
played an important plastic role (5).The
illustrator Jacques Lavedan, chief architect of the historic buildings, made
it immortal in a beautiful pen-and-ink drawing.
Today the scaffolding goes beyond its technical role to take part in the enlivening
of the urban landscape (6),
and an event like July 14 could gives an occasion to a celebratory covering
of the Arc de triomphe for the glorious day.
"While fulfilling its traditional function, the scaffolding can be used
skilfully to enhance a structure, to present a work of art, or to deliver a
message." L'Echafaudage
In the case
of the presentation of a work of art, the artists show in the open air what
is in general only visible inside. Art goes down in the streets and becomes
accessible to all, the city becomes a museum.
Thus Fernand Leger can be better known by the general public, when a large dimension
reproduction of his paintings come to animate the frontage in a provisional
way during the duration of the works (7)
The scaffolding
can also present an event as when a poster advertising for a religious theatre
play was placed on the Saint-Augustin church in Paris. It can also display an
advertising campaign to encourage reading, such as the books in the street -
an operation financed by the AXA Company.
Other artists had the occasion to express events and to take part in an enhancement and transitory animation of the city (8) et (9).
Finally art can also be used for night animation and also introduce a kinetic setting transforming the life of a district (10)
The buildings
project thus temporary images as billboards do, but what is often surprising
is the gigantism of these works and the use of colours.
The imbalance of scale presented by the building and the street is altered.
The scaffolding is a transitory structure.
This second frontage covering made by scaffolding acquires plastic effects according
to material and type.
Thus transparency, relief, light and mobility enliven the frontages.
One can only incite the building owners whose buildings, either public or private,
are subjected to re-pointing, rough-casting or any other work to provide, with
the help of patrons, for the installation of scaffolding covers decorated by
artists. They can, as long as the building site lasts, introduce some dream
and create a plastic element, about which one will speak, while avoiding any
harmful effect if they avoid aggressive advertisement, by using trompe l'œil
or reproductions of works of art that are visible in museums, or other decorations
intended to promote the work of contemporary artists, or even by projecting
a plate of the Illustrated Vocabulary of Art Urbain. (11)
A dialogue with the appropriate bodies (mayor, Architect of the Bâtiments
de France) will be however necessary to act in conformity with the Code of the
Environment (as regards billposting and advertisement).
Cf. ENSEIGNE, PAINTED WALL, SIGNALETIQUE, TROMPE L'OEIL, URBAN PUBLICITY, SLOPE, COVERING, TRANSPARENCY EFFECT, ADVERTISEMENT.