Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building at 62-64 rue Boursault, in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, is an emblematic example of Parisian Art Nouveau. Built in two distinct phases, it illustrates the architectural audacity of the early twentieth century. The first part, erected between 1900 and 1901, is distinguished by its partially visible iron structure, hounded with bricks covered with flaming sandstones created by ceramicist Alexandre Bigot. This mixture of industrial and artisanal materials, combined with the stone of liais, reflects the innovative aesthetics of the time.

The second phase of the project, completed nine years later, confirms the desire of architect René-Auguste Simonet to experiment with a variety of materials on the facade. Here we find flaming sandstone, brick, stone, iron, slate and wood, creating an eclectic and harmonious ensemble. The building is now protected under the Historic Monuments, with remarkable elements such as street facades, roofs, entrance hall and main staircase adorned with stained glass, inscribed by order of 27 March 2000.

The building bears witness to the collaboration between Simonet and Bigot, two major figures of Art Nouveau in France. The flamed sandstone, signed by the ceramist, brings a colorful and organic touch to the structural rigor of iron and stone. This duality between technical innovation and artistic ornamentation characterizes the movement, which sought to break with academic cannons to integrate art into the urban daily.

Located in the 17th arrondissement, a district undergoing transformation at the turn of the century, this building is part of a modernization of Paris. The facades, with their apparent materials and dynamic lines, reflect the spirit of an era marked by industrialization and the desire for accessible beauty. Registration in the inventory of Historic Monuments underlines its heritage importance, both for its architecture and for its role in the history of Parisian urban planning.

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