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Origin and history

The building of the 9 boulevard des Capucines, in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, is part of the urban project of subdivision of the Yellow Fossés, an operation linked to the destruction of the enclosure of Louis XIV. This drilling of the boulevards, at the beginning of the 19th century, allowed the creation of a new neighbourhood, marking a major transformation of the Parisian landscape. The building, erected in 1834-1835, illustrates this dynamic of modernization and expansion of the capital under the July monarchy.

The construction of the building was entrusted to Lesueur, the contractor whose plans defined its architecture. The building is distinguished by protected elements since 2006: its facade and roof on street, its main staircase, as well as some rooms decorated on the upper floors. These features reflect the bourgeois style of the era, where the beautification of facades and interior design met the expectations of an easy clientele.

The building is now owned by a private company, but its registration in the Historic Monuments in 2006 demonstrates its heritage value. It embodies both the heritage of the major Haussmannian works before the hour and the preservation of an architectural heritage linked to the 19th century Parisian urbanization.

The location of the building, close to the old ditches of Louis XIV, recalls the military history of Paris. The disappearance of these fortifications paved the way for ambitious real estate projects, transforming previously peripheral areas into central and prestigious neighbourhoods. The Boulevard des Capucines, where the building is located, has thus become a symbol of this urban metamorphosis.

Available sources, including Monumentum, highlight the importance of this building in the context of 19th-century Paris. Its preservation allows us to understand the architectural and social evolutions of the capital, between royal heritage and bourgeois modernity.

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