Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Guimard building of the Place d'Italie station is an emblematic architectural element of the Parisian metro, designed by Hector Guimard in the Art Nouveau style. It is part of the original network access, inaugurated in the early twentieth century. This edicle, located in the south of the Place d'Italie, has been listed or listed as historic monuments since 2016, demonstrating its heritage importance. It is distinguished by its organic forms and plant motifs, characteristic of Guimard's work for the Compagnie du Métropolitain de Paris (CMP).

The Place d'Italie station, served by lines 5, 6 and 7, was opened gradually between 1906 and 1931. The Guimard entrance of access No. 1, adorned with a fixed staircase, is located to the southwest of the square, while access No. 2, also equipped with an entourage designed by Guimard, is located opposite the shopping center Italy Two. These edicles, among the last preserved in Paris, symbolize the pioneering era of the metro and its integration into the urban landscape. Their preservation reflects the desire to maintain a tangible link with the history of Parisian transport.

Place d'Italie, with its 10.6 million annual passengers in 2019, is a major hub of the network. The Guimard edicles, although modernized by contemporary equipment such as escalators, remain visual and historical landmarks in the 13th arrondissement. Their style contrasts with the later layouts of the docks, marked by the "Andreu-Motte" style of the 1970s-1980s. These accesses also recall the architectural evolution of Paris, between Art Nouveau heritage and modern functionality.

Hector Guimard (1867-1942), French architect, marked the visual identity of the Parisian metro with its iron and glass entrances, ordered between 1900 and 1913. His work, initially controversial, is today celebrated for his aesthetic audacity. The buildings of Place d'Italie, like those of the Abbesses station or Porte Dauphine, are among the 86 still visible in Paris on the 141 originals. Their preservation illustrates the late recognition of Art Nouveau as a national heritage.

The classification of these edicles, notably by the Order of 12 February 2016 for access No. 1, underlines their historical and artistic value. Their integration into a constantly changing urban environment, between shopping centres and modern buildings such as Kenzō Tange, creates a dialogue between periods. These heritage elements also recall the central role of the metro in the transformation of Paris in the 20th century, facilitating travel and structuring neighbourhoods such as the 13th arrondissement.

External links