Immeuble Génin-Louis, bâtiment à Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle)
The Immeuble Génin-Louis is a multi-story urban building in Nancy dating from the early 1900s, located at the corner of Saint-Jean and Bénit streets. It features an exposed steel frame with decorative metal details, large windows, and a corner oriel that housed both commercial and residential spaces.
The building was designed around 1901 by engineer Henri Gutton and was restored after a fire in 1902 that destroyed the attic. It survived demolition proceedings in the 1970s and was later protected as a historic monument.
The name Génin-Louis refers to Jules Genin and Camille Louis, the original owners who ran a grain trading business here. The metal decorations on the windows and corner oriel, shaped like poppies, reflect the building's commercial past and the craftsmanship of the period.
The building is located at the corner of two busy streets in central Nancy, making it easy to reach on foot. Since it is a protected monument with restricted access, it is best viewed from outside where you can see the facade details clearly from the sidewalk.
The building was one of Nancy's first with an exposed steel frame using steel rivets, a groundbreaking technique for around 1900. The collaboration between engineer Gutton and metalwork specialist Frédéric Schertzer was unusual for the time and made it a pioneer of rationalist architecture.
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