Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Garacci-Bensa building, located at 9 rue Longchamp and 6 rue Maréchal-Joffre in Nice, is an emblematic building of the late 19th century. Built in two phases, it illustrates the architectural evolution of the Nice period. The first campaign, around 1870, was led by Charles Garacci, a Nice painter specializing in genre scenes. This first building lays the foundations of a residential building typical of local Haussmannian urbanism, marked by careful aesthetic research.

Between 1897 and 1904 Charles Bensa, probably an heir or partner, oversees the addition of two additional floors. This extension is accompanied by an elaborate studded decoration, representing mythological subjects, as well as sgraffits (scratch technique on coloured coating) adorning the south and west facades. These decorative elements, characteristic of the architectural eclecticism of the time, reflect the influence of Italian and French artistic currents in the region.

The building is officially recognized for its heritage value on 5 May 1995, when its southern façade and the west façade frieze, with their sgraffitte decorations, are listed as historical monuments. This ranking underlines the importance of the building as a witness to the urban and artistic history of Nice, between local tradition and modernity at the end of the century. The official documents (Merimée database) specify that the building is identified under the KT 11 cadastre, confirming its anchoring in the historical fabric of the city.

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