Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The 26 rue Vavin building, located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, is a residential building built between 1912 and 1914 by architects Charles Sarazin and Henri Sauvage. Originally named Sports House, it had to include a fencing room, finally abandoned. Its innovative architecture, patented in 1912, uses steps for the top three floors to optimize sunlight and ventilation, a response to the TB epidemics of the time. The rooms of maids, traditionally relegated under the roofs, are here integrated into the houses to improve living conditions.

The façade is entirely covered with white and blue tiles, similar to those of the Parisian metro, provided by Boulenger. The building, made of reinforced concrete, has six levels (nine according to some sources), with a structure where each floor supports the next. As early as 1914, it housed a workpiece to make clothing for German prisoners of war. Its social history is marked by various uses: Catholic club for American students (1927), Raymond Girard's theatre school ( 1950s), and seat of associations such as the Indochinese Amnesty Committee (1934).

Ranked a historic monument in 1975 for its facades and roofs, the building is also linked to cinema: it appears in The Last Tango in Paris (1972) as the residence of Maria Schneider's character, and in Le Solitaire (1987) as the residence of Jean-Paul Belmondo. Architects Henri Sauvage and Charles Sarazin lived there, as did writer Paul Nizan. Its sandstone coating and hygienist design bear witness to the architectural innovation of the early 20th century, mixing functionality and Art Nouveau aesthetics.

The neighbourhood, served by the metro line 4 (Vavin station), reflects the social evolution of Paris: from the prison clothing workshop to the theatre school frequented by Belmondo, the building embodies the urban and cultural changes of its time. Its price per square metre in 2022 (between 13 377 € and 18 211 €) bears witness to its lasting prestige in a historical district.

His notable occupants include artistic and intellectual figures, such as Caroline de Broutelles, founder of the Femina Prize, whose jury met in his apartment. The building thus illustrates the intersection between architectural heritage, social life and social commitments, from its construction to its present status as a protected monument.

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