Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Hector Guimard - Architect
Designer of Art Nouveau subway buildings.
Origin and history
The Guimard building of the Daumesnil station is part of the network of Art Nouveau entrances designed by Hector Guimard for the Paris metro at the beginning of the 20th century. These structures, commissioned by the Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris (CMP), symbolize the aesthetic and technical innovation of the time, with their vegetal curves and industrial materials such as cast iron and glass.
The Daumesnil station, located in the 12th arrondissement, is directly linked to Lyon station, a major railway hub. Opened in 1900 for line 1, it evolved with the addition of line 14 in 1998, reflecting the continued expansion of the Parisian network. The Guimard edicles, although often demolished or displaced, remain rare evidence of the original visual identity of the metro.
The historical context of these edicles is anchored in the Belle Époque, a period of urban modernization in which Paris is equipped with emblematic infrastructures. Art Nouveau, the dominant artistic movement, seeks to harmonize beauty and functionality, a philosophy embodied by Guimard. These entries, although designed to be reproduced in series, are now seen as works of art in their own right.
The Daumesnil station, with its edicle, also illustrates the adaptation of heritage to contemporary needs. As the metro automates (line 1 in 2012), these historical elements coexist with modern technologies, highlighting the duality between preservation and innovation. Their present scarcity — many have been replaced by standardized entrances — in fact a valuable cultural landmark for Parisians and tourists.
