Construction Decree 1930 (≈ 1930)
Construction decided by decree on 7 August.
2013
Historic Monument Protection
Historic Monument Protection 2013 (≈ 2013)
Registration by order of 27 December.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
2e quart XXe siècle
Construction period
Construction period 2e quart XXe siècle (≈ 2037)
Building of the ministerial building.
Heritage classified
Facades and roofs on streets, squares and courtyards of the building; the entrance hall on all its height and clearance; the stairway of honour, including the second floor vestibule bearing; the two secondary stairwells in full; the concrete service staircase; on the second floor, the Minister's office, the former library (conference room), corridors and clearance spaces (Box BQ 2, cf. plan annexed to the order): registration by order of 27 December 2013
Key figures
André Ventre - Architect
Manufacturer of the ministerial building.
Raymond Subes - Decorator
Author of ironworks and decorations.
Francis Gruber - Painter
Director of wall painting.
Origin and history
The building of the former Ministry of Marine Marchande, located in Paris in the 7th arrondissement, was erected during the 2nd quarter of the 20th century. Its construction, decided by decree on 7 August 1930, is part of a series of administrative projects of the time. The building is distinguished by neat architectural and decorative elements, such as a monumental door, worked ironwork, and interior spaces reminiscent of the development of a ship, including stairs and passageways. The Minister's office, decorated with a wall painting, as well as the old library (now a conference room), bear witness to this attention to aesthetic and functional details.
The building, whose facades, roofs, entrance hall, honorary staircase and other emblematic elements have been protected since 2013, is the work of architect André Ventre, decorator Raymond Subes and painter Francis Gruber. These artists have helped create a place where maritime influence is felt in both the structure and decorative patterns. The building, now shared property between the State and a private company, embodies a period when the French administration modernized its infrastructure to reflect its ambition and national identity, particularly in the maritime field.
Although the source text mainly mentions the Administration of Maritime Affairs and its evolution from the Old Regime to the present day, it does not provide a direct link between this institution and the building of the 7th arrondissement after its construction. The history of the maritime administration, marked by reforms such as that of 1967, which transformed the maritime registration into ‘Maritime affairs', or the creation in 2022 of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture, illustrates the institutional context in which this ministry has evolved. These successive changes reflect the adaptations of the French State to maritime issues, from conscription to the sustainable management of coastlines.
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