“Jules Lefebvre,” the name echoes a painter’s legacy. Today, we stand on Rue Jules Lefebvre Prolongée in Paris. This street wasn’t always here. Imagine Paris in 1910. No Rue Jules Lefebvre Prolongée existed then.
Fast forward to 1912. The street was created and initially named Rue de la Séquanaise. This was after the Société de capitalisation had its headquarters here. It’s quite unique for a public street to be named after a private company.
Later, the street was renamed Rue Jules Lefebvre in 1919. This honored the painter Jules Lefebvre who lived from 1834 to 1912.
Look closely at the street sign. You might notice a spelling mistake. The sign reads “Rue Jules Lefèbvre” with an accent on the “e.”
Notice the building at numbers 2-4. Architect Charles Lefebvre designed it in 1912. This same architect also designed Le Claridge and the arcades of the Lido.
The building on the corner of Rue d’Amsterdam and Rue Jules Lefebvre Prolongée is impressive. It now houses the offices of Axa Corporate Solutions. This building was also built in 1912. It originally housed the headquarters of the La Séquanaise insurance company.
Before Rue Jules Lefebvre Prolongée was built a small cité called Monthiers was no longer crossable. It used to end at 72 bis Rue d’Amsterdam.
Inside 4 Rue Jules Lefebvre Prolongée a stunning Art Nouveau glass roof filters the light. It is a treasure left by La Séquanaise. This building is not generally open to the public.
WeWork also occupies space on Rue Jules Lefebvre. Quadrilatère created this WeWork space. It spans 13000 square meters across two buildings. The first building dates back to 1910. The second building dates back to 1950.
The renovation of the WeWork space presented challenges. The structure was renovated without damaging the exterior. The electricity and air conditioning were fully replaced. The workforce in the building more than doubled.
Rue Jules Lefebvre Prolongée offers a glimpse into Parisian history. From its unusual beginnings to its architectural gems this street connects us to the past. As we move on remember the painter and the street’s interesting story.