Art Nouveau architecture #1

Art Nouveau as a movement, mostly between 1890 and 1905, was a reaction to the highly structured academic art of the 19th century and the new felt sense of freedom and expression as the "fin de siecle" approached. It influenced all the art forms and manifested in architecture as free form and organic, a more artistic way of using materials and using traditional building elements in an artistic way.

It took on slightly different forms in different countries and was particularly big in France, Germany and the future Czech republic. Prague is also well known for many beautiful surviving Art Nouveau buildings. In  England it was known as the Arts & Crafts movement championed by the like of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. In Spain (Catalonia) it was Antonio Gaudi's organic style. In Austria it was related to the Vienna secession.

Here are some examples from Paris for your enjoyment. A lot of these are by the famous Parisian architect Hector Guimard who was renown for his work on the Paris Metro entries and a number of major buildings. He was also a famous self promoter (hence his name being inscribed on the front of his buildings) and lost favour because of that and the fact that being art related the buildings were very expensive to build.

maybe we should sign our buildings as well!!

lovely organic handrail

funky bracket detail

door to die for..

another sweeping door. few straight lines

organic facade next to more traditional one

facade detail

like out of "war of the worlds". get zapped as you enter!

art nouveau street name plate

stepped window arrangement beside an internal stair

another look at that facade

beautiful sculptured window surround.
note the curve to the glazing bar

The best examples of Art Nouveau architecture can be found in the western part of the old city between Metro Jasmin and Metro Ranelagh and on Rue Agar and Rue La Fontaine in the 16 Arrondissement.

Go there if you can.....    J