31-31bis rue Campagne-Première, Historic residential building in Montparnasse, Paris, France

31-31bis rue Campagne-Première is a four-level residential building with reinforced concrete structure and brick infill, characterized by extensive glass and metal elements. It features double-level apartments with two separate entrances and contains a central courtyard that separates the street-facing facade from the rear section.

Built in 1911 by architect André Arfvidson for promoter Charles Henry Bréal, the building holds 20 duplex artist lofts around a shared courtyard between rue Campagne-Première and passage d'Enfer. Its main facade won second prize in the 1912 City of Paris facade competition. The reinforced-concrete frame with polychrome brick infill was listed as a monument historique on 12 June 1986.

The building served as a gathering place for artists from around the world who established their studios within its walls. The spaces allowed creators to live and work simultaneously, making it a center of artistic activity during the early twentieth century.

The building can be viewed from the street, where you can see the elaborate facade and main entrance from the pavement. The best time to photograph it is during daylight hours, when natural light highlights the details of the ceramic and glass elements.

The polychrome glazed stoneware brick infill was made by ceramicist Alexandre Bigot, who also worked on the Lavirotte building and the Grand Palais. The facade won second prize in the City of Paris facade competition of 1912, not an exhibition award.