Abstract:The French architect étienne-Louis Boullée (1728—1799) was an indispensable figure for eighteenthcentury French architecture. Boullée’s designs not only reflect his political stance, but also show his enthusiasm for designing for the people. After the mid-twentieth century, the experimental and radical qualities of Boullée’s work inspired Aldo Rossi and other modern architects. As Chinese publications on Boullée are rare, this article is breaking new ground and explores the source of Boullée’s creativity and design language. The study of Boullée’s work will greatly help us understand the history of French architecture in the eighteenth century better, and it might also inspire contemporary Chinese architects to reflect on their own social responsibilities and, ultimately, on how to create meaning through architecture.