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  2. Patrimoine
  3. Paris
  4. Paris 7ème
  5. 75007 Paris 7e Arrondissement

  6. Building of the Theosophical Society in Paris

 Building of the Theosophical Society in Paris à Paris 1er dans Paris 7ème

Patrimoine classé
Immeuble
Paris

Building of the Theosophical Society in Paris

    4 Square Rapp
    75007 Paris 7e Arrondissement
Immeuble de la Société théosophique à Paris
Immeuble de la Société théosophique à Paris
Immeuble de la Société théosophique à Paris
Immeuble de la Société théosophique à Paris
Immeuble de la Société théosophique à Paris
Immeuble de la Société théosophique à Paris
Immeuble de la Société théosophique à Paris
Immeuble de la Société théosophique à Paris
Immeuble de la Société théosophique à Paris
Crédit photo : Marc Baronnet - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1900
2000
1875
Foundation of the Theosophical Society
1912–1915
Construction of building
1940–1944
Occupation by the SSAD
25 avril 1997
Historical monument classification
années 2000
Partial return of archives
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Facades and roofs of the building; performance hall; large hall on all its height with its dome; stairs; meeting room on courtyard on the ground floor; Library and reading room on the first floor (Box 07: 04 CJ 32): registration by order of 25 April 1997

Key figures

Louis Lefranc - Architect Designed the building between 1912 and 1915.
Henry Steel Olcott - Founder of the Theosophical Society Inspired the creation of the movement in 1875.
Jacques de Marquette - Mason and site user Organizes Masonic sessions in the building.

Origin and history

The building of the Theosophical Society, located in 4 square Rapp in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, was built between 1912 and 1915 by architect Louis Lefranc. He was commissioned to house the Parisian branch of the Theosophical Society (founded in 1875 in the United States), and he was the embodiment of this spiritualist movement in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. Its eclectic architecture combines neo-Gothic influences (troubadour style), Art Nouveau (floral motifs, bay windows) and Art Deco (geometric shapes), with a stone base and a top brick part. The building includes a 450-seat amphitheater, a dome, and meeting and reading rooms.

During the Nazi occupation, the building was requisitioned to accommodate the SSAD (German security service). The archives of the Theosophical Society are plundered by the Germans; Part is returned by Russia in the 2000s. At the same time, the building serves as a Masonic lodge — Jacques de Marquette (1888–1969) organizes sessions there — and also houses the Embassy of Costa Rica (4th floor) and the Adyar editions, which publish the magazine Le Lotus Bleu.

Partially classified as historical monuments since 25 April 1997, the building protects its facades, roofs, the entertainment hall, the large hall with its dome, stairwell, and spaces dedicated to the library and meetings. Its location, opposite the Lavirotte building, makes it an architectural and historical testimony of the spiritual and artistic currents of the early twentieth century in Paris.

External links

Page Wikipedia
Page Monumentum