The ideal palace exists – Le Palais Idéal by Ferdinand Cheval.

Let's talk about such a rare phenomenon in the history of architecture as the officially recognized direction of "naive architecture", or in French - "art brut" (rough art).

In France, in the town of Hauterives (Hauterives), located near Lyon, there is a landmark that has become the national pride of France - Ferdinand Cheval Palace, IdealPalace.

The story of the creation of this fabulous complex is beautifully told in the wonderful 2018 Franco-Belgian film, “The Ideal Palace of Ferdinand Cheval,” directed by Niels Tavernier.

The arthouse film vividly shows the story of an unusual construction project that lasted for fifty years.

The ideal palace was built by a simple self-taught postman without architectural or construction education. However, without the appropriate education, he had talent, persistence, observation, and an incredibly strong desire.

The palace is built of oddly shaped stones – limestone, which could be found in this region of France right under your feet. In ancient times, what is now the Mediterranean Sea was part of the Tethys Ocean of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. The stones Cheval found for the palace are natural “artifacts” of that ancient era.

For 20 years, postman Cheval collected these stones for the future palace.

The building is a structure made of stones, cement and wire. The self-taught master prepared the cement for the construction himself.

To build a fairytale palace, Ferdinand Cheval turned to his experience - as a boy of 13, he became a baker's assistant, and while creating the palace, he constantly turned to the technology of kneading dough.

"The Ideal Palace" is a mixture of styles and trends. Cheval's inspiration came from postage stamps and postcards depicting world architectural masterpieces.

He borrowed motifs from Arabic and Chinese cultures and was influenced by the architecture of Antonio Gaudi.

The vibrating walls of the palace, which have no smooth surfaces, are completely decorated with miniature staircases, balconies, stucco and sculptures of outlandish fantastic zoomorphic and anthropomorphic creatures.

Inside and outside the palace walls, Cheval placed inscriptions - ancient quotes from Christianity and Buddhism, mysterious signs and symbols. The palace is decorated with fountains, chandeliers made of stones and shells.

In some ways, the low fairytale palace resembles the sand houses that children build on the seashore.

Ferdinand Cheval built the palace alone, using the simplest tools. He used wire for the frame, then joined the stones with lime and cement mortar.

All this time, the postman Cheval was considered an eccentric. However, the public opinion changed when the palace acquired a clear outline, and curious "pilgrims" began to come to see the local curiosity.

Construction was completed in 1912.

The world saw a structure built by one single person without any help or special equipment. The "Ideal Palace" is 26 meters long, 14 meters wide and 10 meters high. The eastern facade contains the following data: "10,000 days. 93,000 hours. 33 years of struggle. If anyone thinks they can do better, let them try."

In the basement of the palace, Cheval equipped two crypts - Ferdinand wanted to be buried here with his family. The authorities categorically refused the author of the palace this opportunity. Then, at the age of 78, Cheval transformed the family crypt in the city cemetery into a semblance of his fairy-tale palace in 8 years.

Immediately after the construction was completed, a series of postcards with views of the palace were printed. In the 1930s, Cheval's creation evoked admiring responses from Pablo Picasso and André Breton.

Ferdinand Cheval lived through the time when his creations were recognized by the public. He willingly gave tours to tourists and told them about his palace.

In 1969, the “Ideal Palace of Ferdinand Cheval” and the family “Tomb” in 1975 were classified as masterpieces of naive architecture, officially recognized as cultural monuments and taken under state protection.

Not only educated outstanding architects and craftsmen can create masterpieces. But an example of naive architecture is a rarity. The fact is that architectural structures not only decorate space, carry an aesthetic, emotional and symbolic load, they perform a systemic, city-forming role, have a utilitarian function. And these things are associated with many factors, among which the main ones are safety and functionality.

The utilitarian, operational properties and safety of such buildings may raise doubts, this is understandable, because they are created without meeting the relevant requirements and standards.

However, this is not why we told the story of Ferdinand Cheval.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow it is important to follow your dream, despite the opinions of others.

A modern designer needs to study the experience of predecessors, master new technologies, synthesize and apply them, set high standards for himself, persistently achieve new heights and improve.

Very often today, professionals, unfortunately, lack in their work the same dedication to themselves as Ferdinand Cheval had.

I would like to finish the story about the “Ideal Palace” with a quote from this unique person: “It doesn’t matter how old you are and what you want to achieve in life, if you are brave, persistent and ready to work hard, then success will definitely come to you.”