Final answer:
Claude-Nicholas Ledoux, a prominent architect of the Enlightenment Era, designed the Royal Saltworks in 1773 in Arc et Senans, France. This architectural masterpiece, known for its symmetry and functional grace, served as a model for factory towns and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Step-by-step explanation:
Claude-Nicholas Ledoux and The Royal Saltworks
Claude-Nicholas Ledoux was an influential French architect during the Enlightenment Era. One of his most renowned works is the Royal Saltworks at Arc et Senans, France, completed in 1773. This semicircular complex was designed for the production of salt and is noted for its classical architecture that embodies the Enlightenment ideals of reason, order, and beauty. It is a prime example of early industrial architecture and Ledoux's visionary approach.
Located near the Forest of Chaux and the Doubs River, its strategic placement allowed for efficient transport and production processes. The Royal Saltworks served as an ideal model of a factory town, representing perhaps the culmination of Ledoux's philosophical and architectural ambitions. The complex's symmetry, geometrical precision, and hierarchical organization reflect its purpose and the social structure of the time.
Ledoux's concern for aesthetic appeal did not overshadow functionality in his designs. The Royal Saltworks, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered an architectural masterpiece of its time, highlighting the integration of form and function influenced by Enlightenment thinking.