as a military hospital; during World War I, 23 soldiers died on its grounds. Between 1972 and 1983, the government of Baden-Württemberg restored the palace's interiors. From May 1968 to 1986, an autonomous dorm was located in today's academy building. Many of the residents were musicians, actors and dancers, as well as social workers, architects and engineers. Professor K.R.H. Sonderborg from the Stuttgart Art Academy, the conductor Manfred Schreier and the actress Bettina Kupfer were frequent guests. Grounds and architecture Solitude Palace's complex is made up by a primary palatial structure, two outbuildings, and some avenues. There was also an extensive garden, laid out by Friedrich Christoph Hemmerling along preexisting paths. Reinhard Heinrich Ferdinand Fischer drew up plans for massive expansions to the garden and palace complex from 1766 to 1772 that closely followed the principles of French horticulturalist Antoine-Joseph Dezallier d'Argenville. The south garden was used for the entertainment of residents and visitors to Solitude and offered a hedge maze, theater, orangery, riding hall, a chinoiserie house, and zoos. The surrounding forests were carefully manicured to facilitate the style of coursing. The grounds were allowed to fall into disrepair from 1770 onward. Castle Solitude was designed by a working group at the ducal court led Philippe de La Guêpière, though Charles Eugene was actively involved in the planning. The Duke desired the palace to be designed in the Rococo style, like his earlier project at Schloss Favorite. By 1763, however, the Rococo style had gone out of vogue in favor of Neoclassical architecture, and Solitude's interiors reflect this. At first, Charles Eugene intended to build an unassuming hunting retreat. He later changed his mind, and construction would last seven years and cost around a million florins. Construction was directed by La Guêpière and . From 1764 and 1768, Charles Eugene constructed the , a long road from Solitude Palace to Ludwigsburg and its palace. Use of the Avenue was reserved for the royal household. In 1820, the Avenue became the standard reference for measuring distance in the Kingdom of Württemberg. Main building The main palatial building follows a standard Rococo plan, consisting of a large, oval-shaped hall with two halls that end in a pavilion. It is surrounded by a terrace supported on a series of arches that rises to the beletage, with a belvedere and staircases on either side. The center of the building is the White Hall,