3 square Rapp, Paris, Art Nouveau residential building in 7th arrondissement, France.
This address is an apartment building in the 7th arrondissement featuring striking facades with curved lines and off-balance patterns. The surfaces blend stone, brick, and glazed ceramics in multiple colors, with projecting balcony-like structures extending from the walls.
Architect Jules Lavirotte designed this building in 1899 as a residence for Countess Pauline de Montessuy, establishing himself as a key innovator of the Art Nouveau movement. The project demonstrated his approach to transforming urban apartments into artistic expressions through architectural decoration.
The stairwell and interior decorations feature symbols reflecting the residents' lives, with particular emphasis on the Lavirotte family's connection to craftsmanship. These ornamental details celebrate artistic creation and personal expression through everyday imagery woven into the building's design.
The building is easy to spot from the street thanks to its distinctly colorful and sculptural facade that stands out from surrounding structures. The best view of the entire composition can be had from across the street or from a distance of several meters for perspective.
The architect's personal residence occupied the fifth and sixth floors, incorporating a spacious workshop within the apartment itself. This direct combination of living space and creative studio within a residential building was unusual for Paris at that time.
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