Charles Baillairgé (29 September 182610 May 1906Christina Cameron. "Baillairgé, Charles", in Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, University of Toronto and Université Laval, 2000, retrieved February 1st, 2009) was an architect, land surveyor, civil engineer, and an author.
He was from a long line of sculptors, painters, and architects that began with his great grandfather, Jean Baillairgé. He was involved in designing many projects that were under the supervision of his brother, Frédéric, who held a senior position with public works. He completed the neoclassical stone building for the Academy of Music (Music Hall) on rue Saint-Louis in Quebec city in 1853.
Charles Baillairgé and Thomas Fuller (architect) completed work in 1866 as the principal architects on the Parliament of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Three of Baillairgé's works have been designated as National Historic Sites of Canada due to their remarkable architecture. The Bon-Pasteur Chapel (1868), a rectangular five-storey stone-faced chapel with a gable roof is part of the motherhouse of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Quebec City, designed by Charles Baillairgé, was designated a National Historic Site in 1975 as an outstanding example of religious architecture in Quebec. Baillairgé's Têtu House (1854), a three-storey, stone townhouse designed in the Neoclassical style by Charles Baillairgé in the same city was designated a National Historic Site in 1973 as one of the most remarkable examples of a Neoclassical townhouse built in Canada during the mid-19th century. The Church of Sainte-Marie (1859) in Sainte-Marie was designated in 2006 due to the unique interiors designed by Baillairgé.
Charles Philippe Ferdinand Baillairgé designed a Roman Catholic church and sacristy, 1849 in Beauport, Quebec. He designed a Roman Catholic church in St. Elzear, Quebec 1852. He designed a Roman Catholic church 1853-7 in L'Isle Verte, Quebec. He designed Eglise Ste. Marie, 1854 in Ste-Marie, Quebec. He designed a Roman Catholic church, 1854–56 in St. Romuald, Quebec. He designed Eglise St. Patrice, 1855–57 in Riviere-Du-Loup, Quebec, which burned in 1883, and was rebuilt. He designed a Roman Catholic church, 1861 in Ste. Marguerite, Quebec. With Joseph F. Peachy, Baillairgé designed the interiors for a Roman Catholic church, Ile d'Orleans, 1863 in St. Laurent, Quebec. He designed a private chapel (1886) at his summer residence; now relocated at La Guadeloupe, Frontenac Co. In 1889, he restored the Breakneck Stairs in Quebec City, the city's oldest stairway.
Works BuildingYear CompletedBuilderStyleLocationImageEglise St. Roch, addition of two steeples to the church designed by Thomas Baillairgé1841Charles BaillairgéSt. Joseph Street, Quebec, QuebecEglise St. Jean Baptiste, 1847 interior decorations, 1854; addition of two bell towers, 1857; presbytery, 18581847Charles BaillairgéSt. Jean Street, Quebec, Quebeccentral pavilion, Laval University, University Street,http://dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/architects/view/1654 Charles Baillairgé 1854–56 Charles Baillairgé Quebec, QuebecNotre Dame Roman Catholic Basilica, cast-iron fence and gates1857Charles Baillairgé Market Square Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Pavillon Charles-Baillairgé; ancienne prison de Québec Charles Baillairgé Québec, Québec Langevin Block, Parliament Hill Charles Baillairgé & Thomas Fuller (architect) Ottawa, Ontario Library of Parliament, Parliament Hill Charles Baillairgé & Thomas Fuller (architect) Ottawa, Ontario House of Parliament Charles Baillairgé & Thomas Fuller (architect) Ottawa, Ontario
References
Christina Cameron. "Baillairgé, Charles", in Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, University of Toronto and Université Laval, 2000 Cameron, Christina (1989). Charles Baillairgé: Architect and Engineer, McGill-Queen's Press, 201 p. () (preview) Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec (http://www.patrimoine-culturel.gouv.qc.ca/RPCQ/detailPge.do?methode=consulterOngletInfoHistorique&pgeId=7227)
External Historic Places in Canada