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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The building located 45 Foch Avenue in Nancy is an emblematic achievement of Art Nouveau Lorrain, built between 1902 and 1903. commissioned by Fernand Loppinet, inspector of Waters and Forests, who arrived in Nancy in 1900, this house illustrates the influence of the decorative arts of the École de Nancy. The plans, drawn up in August and October 1902, incorporate an English garden designed in April 1903, reflecting the taste of the era for harmonious and naturalistic spaces.

The architect Charles-Désiré Bourgon (1855–1915), a professor at Nancy's Municipal School of Fine Arts, oversees the project. The carved decoration is entrusted to Auguste Vautrin (1868–1921), formed in Paul Cayotte's workshop, whose signature appears on the facade. The glass windows, attributed to master glassmaker Joseph Janin (1851–1910), complete this artistic ensemble. The building, partially protected since 1976, bears witness to Nancy's cultural dynamism at the turn of the twentieth century.

The facade and roof, inscribed in the Historical Monuments by decree of 26 December 1976, embody the local know-how. The Art Nouveau style, marked by curved lines and floral motifs, expresses itself through sculptures and stained glass windows. This building is part of the urban renewal movement that transforms Nancy into a major artistic home, along with other achievements of the Nancy School such as the Villa Majorelle.

The sponsor, Fernand Loppinet, represents an enlightened bourgeoisie, concerned with modernity and aesthetics. His choice to collaborate with local artisans – Bourgon, Vautrin, Janin – underlines the importance of professional networks in the diffusion of Art Nouveau. The building, still located at the original address, remains a tangible testimony of this period of fascination for the architecture of the Nemenca.

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