The Abbé Jean-Louis de Cordemoy (fl. 1706-12) was a French architectural historian, prior of St-Nicolas at La-Ferté-sous-Jouarre (Seine-et-Marne), and a canon at St-Jean-des-Vignes, Soissons (Aisne). His Nouveau Traité de toute l’architecture was amongst the first studies of ecclesiastical architecture. He praised the Gothic style for its clear expression of structure. His ideas of ordonnance, disposition and bienseance as expressions of integrity to nature and structure were an early precursor of modern functionalism and truth to materials. He had a considerable influence on 18th century architectural theory, especially Desgodets, Laugier, de la Hire and Boffrand. He also participated in an acrimonious debate in the Jesuit periodical Memoires de Trevoux with the engineer Amedee-Francois Frezier regarding sacred architecture.

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