Background
Bourdon was born in Paris on 16 July 1870.
Professor of Architectural Design
Bourdon was born in Paris on 16 July 1870.
He was educated at the Condorcet Lycee, and received his Bachelier-des-lettres in 1888. Following this, he studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Following graduation, he went to work for the French Government as an inspector for the Exposition Universelle. A collection of photographs taken by Bourdon around this time show architectural exteriors and interiors of churches and other historical buildings in Italy and France. Back of photographs have stamp "Eugene Bourdon, Architecte, Diplome par le Gouvernement"
In 1900 Bourdon travelled to New York for a time before returning to France, where he found work as an assistant to Professor J L Pascal.
Professor Pascal was invited to Glasgow by the Governors of the Glasgow School of Art and asked to report on architectural education in the city.
Professor Pascal was unable to travel but sent in his place his assistant, Bourdon. Bourdon made his report, suggested minor modifications of the curriculum, and also recommend the appointment of a French-trained professor to head the new department of architecture.
Asked if he himself was available he agreed to accept the post of Professor of Architectural Design in 1904. Bourdon wrote that "that the Beaux Arts system of architectural education consists of giving the foremost place to the Study of Design.
lieutenant is assumed, as a matter of course, that the architect must have a complete training as a practical builder and as a man of business, and that he must be a man of educationin a word, he must be a professional manitoba
But these qualities, though necessary, are not sufficient to make an architectthat is, an artist. Design is the proper function of the architect, and the training of young architects to design is the most important duty of architectural educators."
Bourdon promoted "steel-framed Classical buildings of the American type". The current School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art is based in a building named after Bourdon.
Bourdon introduced the Beaux-Arts architecture style to Scotland building on what might be argued to be a strong commitment to classicism in Glasgow.