Timeline

Origin and history

The Maison des Métallos, originally named Maison des Métallurgists, is an iconic building located at 94 rue Jean-Pierre-Timbaud, in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Built in 1881 to house the Gautrot musical instrument factory (later Couesnon), it illustrates the industrial architecture of the period. A wrought iron lyre, always visible above the gate, bears witness to this first musical vocation.

In 1936, the building was purchased by the Union Fraternal des Métalurgists (UFM), a branch of the CGT, and inaugurated in 1937 as a versatile place. It then hosts administrative services, a canteen, a bookshop, a sports hall, and even a primary social insurance fund for metalworkers. This project reflects the social and union commitment of the 1930s, providing a space dedicated to workers and their daily needs.

Classified as historical monuments in 2000 for their facades and roofs, the premises were partially sold by the UFM in 2000. Thanks to the mobilisation of local associations and the support of the UFM, the City of Paris became its owner in July 2001. Since then, the Maison des Métallos has been a cultural institution supported by the City Hall and the Île-de-France Region, hosting artistic residences each month around various themes, combining performances and innovative encounters.

The site retains a double memory: that of the 19th century music industry, symbolized by wrought iron lyre, and that of the 20th century social history, marked by its role in the labour and trade union movement. Today, it embodies a place of contemporary creation while preserving its heritage heritage.

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