Hector Guimard is well known in Paris as the designer of the beautiful Art Nouveau metro station entrances seen around the city. He was also a prolific furniture designer and architect, particularly in the lower 16th arrondissement in Paris. It just so happens this is my neighbourhood and I have walked by these buildings on many occasions, often without knowing it was his work. In recent weeks I’ve stopped by each of his buildings to get a good look at his designs, some of which are easy to spot as they have the characteristic curved lines he made famous while others are quite plain and unremarkable.

1891 - Hôtel Roszé 34 rue Boileau

It’s difficult to get a good look at Hôtel Roszé as it’s surrounded by a high fence and large trees. This was designed and built well before the Art Nouveau movement became popular in France.

1893 - Villa Jassede 41 rue Chardon Lagache

The unusual Villa Jassede was one of the first to combine stone and ceramics in the facade.

1894 - Hôtel Delfau 1 rue Molitor

I walked by this brick building many times without knowing it was Guimard’s work. It’s located just next to Metro Chardon-Lagache.

1894 - Atelier Carpeaux 39 boulevard Exelmans

1895 - Ecole du Sacré-Coeur 9 avenue de la Frillière

You can just make out the beautiful art nouveau pillars in the first photo below but not the interior decoration which includes an Art Nouveau staircase.

1898 - Castel Béranger 14 rue La Fontaine

Castel Béranger was described as ‘deranged’ by his contemporaries. It was one of the first Art Nouveau buildings to have been built outside of Belgium where the style began. The gate is a stunning example of Art Nouveau art. Each of the 36 apartments here have their own unique design.

1903 - Immeuble Jassedé 142 avenue de Versailles

There are actually two different buildings here, one facing Avenue de Versailles designed for bourgeois clients (pictured below) and the more modest building around the corner.

1907 - Hôtel Deron-Levent 8 villa de la Réunion

The Hôtel Deron-Levent is located just behind Villa Jassede on a private road. It’s described as being ‘guimaresque’.

1909 - Immeuble Trémois 11 rue Millet

This beautiful building is in a quiet street just off Rue La Fontaine.

1909 - Hôtel Mezzara 60 rue La Fontaine

Hotel Mezzara is a stunning Art Nouveau house and one of my favourites.

1912 – 17 and 19 Rue La Fontaine and 43 rue Gros

These 3 separate buildings take up the entire corner block on Rue La Fontaine.

1912 – Corner of Rue Agar et 21 Rue La Fontaine

Another Guimard designed building on Rue La Fontaine.

1913 - Hôtel Guimard 122 avenue Mozart

This was Hector Guimard’s home for some time until he moved to 18 rue Heine, a couple of streets away.

1922 - 3 square Jasmin

Hidden away on a small private square, this black and white house is unlike his other work.

1924 - Villa Flore 120 avenue Mozart

This building and those built after it aren’t in the Art Nouveau style but the Villa Flore plaque uses the typical Art Nouveau font (similar to the one on Rue Agar).

1926 - 18 rue Heine

This was Guimard’s last home in Paris before moving to the United States with his wife in 1939 to avoid the Nazi occupation. He died in New York a few years later in 1942.

1928 - 36-38 rue Greuze

Guimard’s last known work as an architect. Unlike the other buildings mentioned here, this is not in the lower 16th arrondissement of Paris but up near Trocadero.

Below is a map of Hector Guimard designed buildings in the 16th arrondissement of Paris if you wish to see them with your own eyes. I particularly recommend visiting Castel Béranger and the other Art Nouveau buildings on Rue La Fontaine. You can see even more of Hector Guimard’s Art Nouveau designs at Pere Lachaise cemetery.

View

in a larger map

Thanks to lartnouveau.com for the list of dates and names of the buildings.