Castel Béranger Launched the Fame of Young Hector Guimard

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Castel Béranger has long been on my list of places in Paris to explore. It finally made its way to the top of the list this year and I set out to explore the 16th arrondissement.

Nestled between the Seine and the Bois de Boulogne, Castel Béranger, the first Art Nouveau building in Paris, is located in the Auteuil neighborhood.

Located at 14 rue de la Fontaine, this amazing building, built by Hector Guimard, basically launched him into fame even though today most people remember him for his metro stop designs. In 1899, it was this building that won Guimard the City of Paris Façade Competition.

Young Guimard, age 27 when building began in 1897, went on to design numerous buildings in the Art Nouveau style. Most of these can be found in the 16th arrondissement.

Arriving at a locked gate

I initially had to be content to peer over the fence and through the gate. However, the exterior of the building provided an immense number of features to examine.

Art Nouveau is defined by movement and curves such as that found in plants and their vines using iron, glass and ceramics. Lovely examples of this can be seen on Castel Béranger and I will show you close-ups of all of this! Keep an eye out for Guimard’s use of curved lines (that are not explicitly vines).

In addition to vines and plants, another feature found on Art Nouveau structures is the use of shields that are reminiscent of medieval armoured helmets. At this window, two styles of these shields are used: the larger on the railing and the smaller above the window.

These shield-shapes/masks with devils’ heads (mascarons) are quite different from the shields above the window  (see photo below) and those found on Guimard’s metro designs. Could it be these mascarons earned this house the nick-name of Castel Dérangé (Deranged Castle)?

And then, I continued to look up to the roof-line of the building taking in the amazing quantity of iron railings. What a surprise awaited!

At the top of the building, watching me this whole time was a creature~ Guimard truly let his imagination run wild. Some say this “creature” is a bat.

Beyond the “devil heads”

As Guimard’s patron gave him carte blanche in designing Castel Béranger, there are a plethora of interesting features to be found in addition to the creature above.

Hippocampes at the corners

The hippocampe or sea horse was one of the first to catch my eye.

Revisit the earlier photos in this post and see if you can spot the other sea horses!

Keep looking!

Below is just one of the lovely windows on this building. Look at how the iron has been manipulated into curves framing the window. Then, look at the carvings on the support below the bow window.

At the very base of this plinthe are the flowing lines so familiar in Art Nouveau architecture. But wait!!

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Is that a cat just below the window!?! It is indeed!

More creatures!

Look closely at the metal insert just above the window below. Another creature head, a mascaron! The alleged function of a mascaron is to frighten away evil.

The loveliest feature of Castel Béranger faces the street.

The main entrance to the building embodies all the lovely curves and grace of the Art Nouveau style.  For competitive reasons, Guimard kept  this door a secret, putting it in place at the very last minute.

As I was photographing the door the most wonderful thing happened! But first, a close-up view of the door so that the ceramic work on the two side pillars is clearly visible.

The copper and verdigris of the iron work complement each other so well. In addition, I love the way he treats the iron work as if it were an easily pliable material. Look at the curves!

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As I was photographing exterior details a tour group arrived.

… so I eaves-dropped and discovered the tour guide met with frustration like me at the locked gated entrance.

All of a sudden this group moves en masse toward the gate which is slowly opening as a resident walks out. The guide asks if he can enter with his group and is welcomed….. and my husband and I followed right along!

Delighted to be “inside”, I photographed as much as time and space would allow, being at the back of this large tour group.

Notice the building section with the stair-step windows. In this narrow space, Guimard brought visual interest to the building with this simple feature.

The variety for materials gives such visual interest to Castel Béranger. The rock above is burnt sandstone. I love this rock with the ironwork as seen in the photo. And then the brick arch above the window connects it to the adjacent brick structures. Guimard took everything into consideration.

One last look

One last image before I close. I hope you have enjoyed the post and its photos! Think back to the bow window supported by the cat carving. At the top of this corner is a petite balcony already being hidden by the spring leaves of the tree. Wouldn’t it be delightful to sit on this balcony with a class of wine?

Where to find this amazing building

Resources

Casevecchie, Janine and Targat, Gilles: Paris Art nouveau
Lesbros, Dominique: Curiosités de Paris
Parigramme Collectif: Le Guide du Promeneur de Paris
Rogers, Chris: How to Read Paris
Trouilleux, Rodolphe and Lebar, Jacques: Paris Secret et Insolite

Mon histoire de Castel Béranger (en bref) en français…

La maison Castel Béranger est nichée entre la Seine et le Bois de Boulogne. C’était le premier bâtiment Art Nouveau à Paris et a été réalisé par Henri Guimard. La réputation de Guimard est née de la construction de cet édifice à l’âge de 27 ans. Guimard est connu, aujourd’hui, pour ses conceptions de stations de métro. Mais, avant ces stations, Guimard a réalisé le Castel Béranger. Grâce à sa conception pour ce bâtiment, Guimard a gagné le prix de la façade de la Ville de Paris.

Le style Art Nouveau est défini par les lignes courbes trouvées dans la nature à l’aide des matériaux en fer, verre et céramique. Guimard les a utilisés dans ses dessins et aussi diverses statues d’animaux dont certaines sont bizarres.

Les linteaux de fenêtre et garde-corps ont la forme des casques d’armures médiévales et les têtes à l’aspect mascarons. Peut-être c’est à cause des mascarons que le Castel Béranger a été surnommé le Castel Dérangé.

De plus, il est possible de repérer plusieurs hippocampes de fer aux coins de ces édifices. Il y a une fenêtre arquée que j’adore. Elle est encadrée de vignes de fer en patine vert-de-gris. En outre, l’encorbellement porte une gravure d’un chat et dessous, il y a plus de gravures en forme de vignes.

Le plus beau et le plus connu aspect du Castel Béranger est sa porte qui donne sur la rue de la Fontaine. Les courbes de fer en patine vert-de-gris servent de complément au cuivre. Par ailleurs, ces courbes relient l’œil à l’arc de pierre dans lequel cette porte a été placée ainsi que les colonnes à chaque côté avec leurs sculptures de plantes.

Cette écriture n’est qu’un bref coup d’œil à un bâtiment fascinant sur lequel je pourrais écrire des pages.