Did you know that the Céramic Hôtel and its unusual façade are listed as Historic Monuments?

If you're strolling along 34 avenue de Wagram in the 8th arrondissement, you'll want to check out the Céramic Hotel, a veritable jewel of Art Nouveau in Paris. Designed by architect Jules Lavirotte in 1904, this building is a perfect illustration of the aesthetic principles of the period. Inaugurated in 1904, this singular building immediately caught the eye of passers-by with its exuberant Modern Style style.

The Céramic Hotel was designed for singing teacher Amélie Russeil, who wanted a tenement building on her Avenue de Wagram property to house a furnished apartment. She called on Jules Lavirotte to give her building a unique look and attract customers.

Jules Lavirotte wanted to make a name for himself in the world of architecture, so he created a technical feat of remarkable appearance. The ceramic façade, entirely clad in polychrome flamed sandstone and glazed brick, conceals a reinforced concrete structure built using the Cottancin system. With the help of the famous ceramist Alexandre Bigot and the sculptor Camille Alaphilippe, Jules Lavirotte was able to create an abundance of decor that remains fascinating to this day.

When designing the Céramic Hotel, Jules Lavirotte took advantage of the narrowness of the plot to give his building singular proportions. Built on eight levels, it gives an impression of movement and elevation. This allowed the architect to energize the façade by exploiting the plastic vocabulary of Art Nouveau.

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The Céramic Hotel is now known as the Elysées Céramic Hotel. Although the interiors have been completely redesigned, the building still retains its curious organic allure. Awarded a prize in the City of Paris façade competition in 1905, its roofs and façades have been listed as Monuments Historiques since 1964. The Céramic Hotel has also been awarded the " Patrimoine du XXème siècle" label, and is still a renowned tourist hotel today.

Originally, the area of Les Ternes where the Céramic Hotel is located had a sulphurous reputation. The area was very festive and morally loose. Considered a "furnished house", the Céramic Hotel was even suspected of harboring prostitution.

Despite this, the building stands out for its uniqueArt Nouveau style. Jules Lavirotte brilliantly exploited the plastic vocabulary of the period to create fluid lines, curves and the play of volumes that assert the great modernity of the architecture.

Alexandre Bigot's flamed sandstone façade is a true masterpiece, with its plant motifs and harmonious colors. It enhances the curved lines inspired by the architecture's natural surroundings, and the nine-meter-wide façade gives an impression of movement and elevation.

The Céramic Hotel is therefore a must-see building for all lovers of Art Nouveau architecture in Paris. It is proof that Jules Lavirotte was one of the movement's leading exponents, along with Hector Guimard. Even today, this tourist hotel is a charming stopover for visitors wishing to discover the history and beauty of Paris. You can admire another of its well-known wonders, at 29 avenue Rapp in the 7th arrondissement.