as the megalomania of rulers, a dominating structure, which echoed Napoleon's obsession for power and stability. The broad surfaces reflect Chalgrin's interest in geometric forms and the grandeur is further enhanced by the reliefs, which express the highest qualities of the Romantic sculpture of Rude, Etex and Cortot and which now symbolise the very power and prowess that Paris and France represented as an institution in the Nineteenth century.
             Classicism was not just confined to France. John Nash, a contemporary of Sir John Soane (who built the Bank of England in the city of London late in the Eighteenth century) displayed heavy use of classical design in his development of the areas around Regents Park, notably Cumberland Terrace and the surrounding buildings of Regent Street. Designed for the wealthy, these houses were intended to be of grand proportions with great, imposing facades, most of which were built to form uniformed terraces and squares that followed classical methods. The idea behind these constructions was to offer a large living space whilst at the same time, giving a wide area of view from the facade of these buildings. These buildings were intended for the new ruli
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