Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building located at 17 rue Franklin and 1 rue Scheffer, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, is an emblematic example of 1930s report architecture. Built between 1929 and 1930 by the architect Marcel Hennequet, it is distinguished by its reinforced concrete structure and its facade entirely composed of curved bowl-windows, a bold bias for the era. The exterior cladding, in granite ochre enhanced by white earthenware lines, was made by the company Gentil and Bourdet de Boulogne-Billancourt, while the ironworks were designed by Raymond Subes, two major actors of the Art Deco industrial.

Ranked a Historic Monument, the building has been partially protected since the decree of 28 April 1986 specifically covering its facades on the street. Its style, combining technical modernity and geometric aesthetics, illustrates the rise of functional urban constructions in the Paris of the Folle Years, where architectural innovation met a growing demand for bourgeois housing. The location in the 16th arrondissement, which was then in full change, underlines its anchor in a social and economic context marked by the expansion of property.

The building also embodies the collaboration between art craftsmen and architects, characteristic of the period. The bowlows, in addition to their aesthetic role, optimized the sunshine of the apartments, a new concern in urban housing. The materials used, such as granite and earthenware, reflect the influence of decorative arts on civil architecture, while ensuring a durability adapted to Parisian requirements. Today, the building remains a preserved testimony of this pivotal era, where tradition and avant-garde lived in the capital.

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