What love story is etched in stone here at H\u00f4tel Guimard? This isn’t just bricks and mortar. It’s a testament to affection and artistic vision. This is H\u00f4tel Guimard.
H\u00f4tel Guimard stands as a remarkable example of Art Nouveau architecture. It was designed by Hector Guimard. He intended it as his home and studio. More importantly it was a gift to his wife Adeline Oppenheim Guimard. She was a painter.
Hector Guimard began construction in 1909. It was completed in 1912. The location is 122 Avenue Mozart in Paris’s 16th arrondissement. Avenue Mozart was known for its prestigious mansions. Hector Guimard used cut stone and his signature brick. The brick is a low-contrast shade. The fenestration is irregular. It features a corner window. Lanterns adorn a long balcony on the top floor. The ground-floor and top-floor windows on the main facade are symmetrical. This makes the building reminiscent of the eighteenth century.
The small corner lot imposed a triangular shape. It eliminated the need for internal load-bearing walls. To save space he installed a lift instead of a main staircase. Each floor had a unique layout. The ground floor housed studios for Guimard’s architectural business. Reception rooms occupied the floor above. They included an oval salon and an oval dining room. Living quarters were on the second floor. His wife’s studio was on the top floor. Her vast studio window has since been altered.
Guimard designed the interior decoration and furniture. He used pear wood. The dining-room chairs feature interlaced initials “O” and “G”. The table linen also displays these initials.
From 1913 the H\u00f4tel Guimard served multiple purposes. It was Guimard’s practice. It was his wife’s studio. It was their living quarters. Previously his architectural business was on the ground floor of his Castel Béranger. That building primarily consisted of flats.
After Hector Guimard’s death in 1942 his wife offered the house to the French state. The offer was refused. The building was converted into flats. The fittings were scattered. Today you can see the dining room suite at the Petit Palais. The bedroom is at the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon. The study is at the Musée de l’École de Nancy. Other furnishings are at the Cooper Union and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Imagine the lavish dinner parties hosted here. Envision Adeline at work in her studio. Consider the architectural ideas conceived within these walls. H\u00f4tel Guimard represents a unique blend of personal life and artistic creation. It showcases Hector Guimard’s mature style. It also serves as a lasting monument to his love for Adeline. It is a story of art that intertwines with life.