Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The building located at 6-10 rue de la Cavalerie, in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, is a former car garage designed in the 2nd quarter of the 20th century. Built in 1925 by architect R. Farradèche for La Motte-Piquet Garage, it is distinguished by its reinforced concrete structure and its seven levels served by single-way helical ramps. This system patented in 1928 by Farradèche allowed a smooth circulation of vehicles, a major innovation for urban car parks of the time.

The three upper floors of the building were dedicated to sports facilities, including tennis courts, an Argentinean trinquet (sport similar to the Basque pelota), as well as lounges, changing rooms, showers, a bar and a restaurant. These spaces, accessible by an independent elevator, reflected a desire to combine practical utility and leisure, characteristic of the ambitious architectural projects of the 1920s. The set illustrates the adaptation of industrial buildings to mixed uses, marking a transition to multipurpose urban spaces.

Ranked Historic Monument by decree of 3 July 1986, the building bears witness to the technical ingenuity of its architect and the evolution of mobility needs in Paris. Its concentric ramp system, still visible today, remains an early example of urban space optimization. The approximate location and current state of conservation, however, do not allow a systematic visit, although its history is documented by sources such as Monumentum and the Merimée archives.

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