A new museum planned in Paris around Hector Guimard, the architect of the metro entrances

A new museum is due to open in Paris in 2027, housed in the Hôtel Mezzara, a listed building dedicated to the architect Hector Guimard. He was notably responsible for the Art Nouveau-style entrances to the metro.

If you don't know the nameHector Guimard, you certainly know his work. A French architect born in 1867, Hector Guimard helped change the face of Paris, and his legacy can still be seen today in the capital: we owe him the Art Nouveau-style metro entrances in particular!

The architect will be honored in a new museum, due to open in 2027 in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. The new museum will be housed in theHôtel Mezzara, a 1910 townhouse listed as a historic monument and designed by... Hector Guimard himself. The architect and his work are thus highlighted in this historic monument, transformed into a museum for the occasion.

This permanent museum focuses on the French architect, his work and influence, but also on Art Nouveau and the importance of this artistic movement in France and Paris.

Before opening its doors in 2027, the museum dedicated to Hector Guimard must get ready. More specifically, the Hôtel Mezzara must be restored and renovated to be ready for its new mission, and to welcome the public.

More than a century old, the Art Nouveau-style mansion was built for a textile industrialist and lace designer, Paul Mezzara. It was sold to the French state in 1956, to become an annex of the state-run Lycée Jean-Zay. Empty since 2015, the mansion is to be adapted and converted into a cultural venue.

FABELSI subsidiary Hector Guimard Diffusion and the Cercle Guimard association will operate the new museum. The two organizations are planning a " complete restoration of the building, with the help of Art Nouveau specialists, craftsmen, restorers and the architect of historic monuments and State heritage services. " The work includes restoration of the facade, to return the mansion to its original appearance. The interior decor is also to be restored to its former glory.

The museum's collections will include decorative objects, furniture, archives and works that tell the story of the architect's vision. The subway entrances designed by Hector Guimard will also feature prominently in the tour.

Museum operators also want to create immersive experiences around Art Nouveau and the Paris of the Belle Époque.

An exciting project that we can't wait to discover in Paris!