The Luxembourg Gardens are one of the most comfortable places I have visited in Paris, allowing me to relax and feel at peace amongst the crowds of the city. This got me thinking about the comfort of spaces and what makes those places stand out.
The gardens themselves are a fascinating study of dividing space into different uses, holding spaces with contrasting levels of comfort. The central French-style park exerts the power of its benefactor, Queen Marie de Medici, and provides a space for a bit of discomfort in front of the palace. There are few trees to provide shade, and the perfectly manicured grass feels wrong to step on. This feeling is contrasted in the shady lawns near the south entrance to the park and in the English gardens that provide more peace and relaxation as opposed to displays of sheer power.
Later in the day, we went to another comfortable place, this time a building, the Pantheon. Upon entering the Greek temple-style building, I was surprised by the lightness and ease of being in the hall. I was expecting the space to feel like the other churches and historic structures we had been in, oppressive and uncomfortable to be in. On the contrary, the Pantheon felt easy to be in, managing to be impressive without being intimidating.
The history and intent behind the creation of the building could be related to the feeling it exuded. The church was built to honor Saint Geneviève, Paris’ patron saint, which can explain why the building feels welcoming and homey, as it is meant to worship the saint who protects the citizens of Paris. I believe this temple has elements of a building with architecture parlante in mind, trying to portray the building’s purpose as a sanctuary for the people of Paris through its design.
The design itself allows for lots of light to enter the building, with a triple dome in the center of the Greek cross plan temple. The lack of dark-stained glass, like what is seen in Sainte-Chappelle, and instead opting for clear or heavily translucent pigmented glass allowed for the building to get good lighting without needing artificial light to illuminate the space. The building strays away from dark colors, focusing on brightness, even in the artworks scattered throughout the temple.
The art is another aspect that makes the Pantheon feel comfortable to be in, packed wall to wall with depictions of the lives and triumphs of legendary figures from France. The depiction of the story of Joan of Arc is one of the most outstanding parts of the building, filling the wing with amazement, as her story is brought to life through light and vibrant colors. The larger-than-life art of Charlemagne and Saint Geneviève also gives life and comfort to the building, depicting the successes of familiar figures in Parisian history.
Overall, through its design and composition, the Pantheon has been one of the most comfortable and easy spaces to occupy, a wonderful contrast to the dark, oppressive nature of many other fantastic sites we have visited. I spent almost two hours just sitting and taking in the artwork and atmosphere of the church, making it a highlight of the places we have visited.