Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building located 40 courtyards Leopold in Nancy is an emblematic example of a relationship building built between 1903 and 1904, during the first quarter of the 20th century. Sponsored by Nicolas Kempf, a neancean beer merchant, he illustrates bourgeois civil architecture of the time, mixing functionality and aesthetic Art Nouveau. The plans are attributed to the architects Felician Caesar (1849–1930) and his son Fernand César (1879–1969), whose signatures appear on the left facade. The building is distinguished by its decorative ceramic panels, made by the Gentil and Bourdet workshops in Billancourt, and its glass windows created by the nean glassmaker Jacques Gruber (1870–1936), although the glass roof of the door has since been removed.

The façade and the roof on the street were inscribed in the Historical Monuments by decree of 15 January 1975, recognizing their heritage value. This building bears witness to the collaboration between artisans of art and architects during the beautiful period of Neance, when the city, capital of the Dukes of Lorraine, became a major home of Art Nouveau in France. Ceramics and stained glass, typical of this movement, reflect the influence of local art schools and the economic dynamism associated with luxury industries (glass, earthenware).

The exact address, 40 courses Leopold, places the building in a central area of Nancy, close to the major achievements of the School of Nancy. Although the accuracy of its location is considered fair (note 5/10), it remains a marker of the architectural heritage of Lorraine, associated with key names such as Gruber or the Caesars. No information is available about its current access (visit, rental) or its contemporary use.

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