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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building located 2-4 Guyau Street in Menton, built after 1912, is the work of the chinese architect Abel Glena (1862-1932), who designed it to install his residence (n°2) and his cabinet (n°4). The building illustrates the eclectic architectural style of the Riviera at the beginning of the 20th century, combining neoclassicism and Art Deco. His stone façades, animated by bosses and decorations painted under the roof, are signed by painter Guillaume Cerutti-Maori (1866-1955), a regular collaborator of Glena. The Art Nouveau-style pallet doors and the Art Deco Ferronry Gate add to its prestige.

The building consists of two distinct blocks: a 4-storey report building topped by a peak, and the former architectural agency at #4, initially on a single level. The central span is marked by a balustrade oriel, while the angle treated in cut-pan opens onto triplets of window doors. The facades and roofs, inscribed in the Historical Monuments since 3 April 1990, bear witness to the influence of the decorative arts of the time. The building also received the 20th century Heritage label in 2001.

Abel Glena, author of iconic projects such as the Riviera-Palace hotel, has collaborated here with Guillaume Cerutti-Maori for painted decorations, representing children symbolizing fine arts, enhanced with gold leaves. After Glena's departure in the 1920s, the agency was taken over by Frédéric Orrigo. A three-storey elevation, probably in the 1970s, partially altered the original structure. The paintings on the stairs appear to be recent additions.

The location of the building, at the corner of Guyau Street and Avenue du Général-Gallieni, makes it an important part of the chinese heritage. Its architecture reflects the urban boom of the French Riviera in the early 20th century, when Menton attracted an affluent clientele seeking luxurious secondary residences. The mix of styles — neoclassical, Art Deco and Art Nouveau — underscores the eclectic character of the era, while integrating local know-how, such as white limestone and wrought ironwork.

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