Guimard & Early 20C Architecture (Art Nouveau)(1) by hquittner
These monuments to the talent of Hector Guimard (1867-1942) are all over Paris. He was awarded the contract to create the surface entries to the Metro after NOT entering the design competition! Art Nouveau was the rage all over Europe and Paris architects were part of the scene. 86 of these cast-iron beauties are still in place. The most complete two are at the Abbesses (near Montmartre) station (the other at Porte-Dauphine) for which I have no pictures. Some are destroyed and others are in museums. This one is at the station at the center of the Ile de la Cite. If you look carefully you may even find his furniture in museums. As to his buildings there are a whole cluster of them in the western part of the 16th Arr. (near the metro Chandon-Lagache). I have not gone there.How many of these structure have you stopped to admire?
