Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All France Paris Jules Lavirotte's 29 Avenue Rapp

Jules Lavirotte's 29 Avenue Rapp

A scandalous Art Nouveau collaboration that set Paris all atwitter at the turn of the century.

Paris, France

Added By
Laetitia Barbier
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  http://a402.idata.over-blog.com/3/56/05/81...
Av.Rapp - Immeuble Lavirotte   philoursmars
Av.Rapp - Immeuble Lavirotte   philoursmars
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
The facade at night.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
“Eve” & “Adam”   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Av.Rapp - Immeuble Lavirotte   philoursmars
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Av.Rapp - Immeuble Lavirotte   philoursmars
Av.Rapp - Immeuble Lavirotte   philoursmars
  Lana Velkov / Atlas Obscura User
Av.Rapp - Immeuble Lavirotte   philoursmars
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Those who think that Hector Guimard was the only eccentric architect to produce Art Nouveau designs in the Paris will be left speechless by the building at 29 Avenue Rapp. Built in 1901 by Jules Lavirotte, this seven-story creation is probably the most extreme example of the ornamental delirium that is Nouveau that the French capital has hidden away. Lavirotte didn't do it alone, but collaborated with his friends, the ceramist Alexandre Bigot and other fellow sculptors, to create this flamboyant and voluptuous façade, making them winners of the annual architectural frontage competition of Paris that same year.

Due to its asymmetry, organic forms and color tones, and use of modern materials, the building was very much an object of gossip at the turn of the century, unsurprising when you’re confronted with it the first time. 29 Avenue Rapp presents an extraordinary amount of erotic wit, visually translated through stone in both abstract motifs and figurative symbols that were immediately understood by fin de sciecle minds, even in the most prudish of observers.

Instead of the colossal caryatids, Lavirotte chose figures that represent a quiet, personal view of Adam and Eve – through his eyes, Eve becomes an arrogant beauty proudly teasing the viewer with her curves, while her guileless lover has some difficulty hiding his virility. The bestiary of sin also appears, including peacocks, reptiles, bulls for masculinity and insects for its alter ego, while the bronze lizard which serves as the entrance handle refers to old slang describing male genitalia.

If the message wasn’t clear enough, Lavirotte designed the wooden door as a gigantic reversed phallus, adjusting the already extravagant look of the overall composition. Stuck between two very Puritan examples of Haussmanian architecture, Lavirotte’s 29 Avenue Rapp appears like a steam-punk aphrodisiac factory.

Related Tags

Outsider Art Architectural Oddities Outsider Architecture Architecture

Know Before You Go

Ecole Militaire ( 8 )
Pont de l'Alma ( RER C )

Community Contributors

Added By

Laetitia Barbier

Edited By

Martin, philoursmars, Greg Jones, Molly McBride Jacobson...

  • Martin
  • philoursmars
  • Greg Jones
  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • Blindcolour
  • linkogecko
  • SEANETTA
  • rbenn250
  • Julius Spada
  • Lana Velkov

Published

June 14, 2012

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Jules Lavirotte's 29 Avenue Rapp
29 Avenue Rapp
Paris, 75007
France
48.859099, 2.300882
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Musée du quai Branly (Quai Branly Museum)

Paris, France

miles away

Musée des Egouts (Paris Museum of Sewers)

Paris, France

miles away

Gustave Eiffel's Secret Apartment

Paris, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Paris

Paris

France

Places 204
Stories 41

Nearby Places

Musée du quai Branly (Quai Branly Museum)

Paris, France

miles away

Musée des Egouts (Paris Museum of Sewers)

Paris, France

miles away

Gustave Eiffel's Secret Apartment

Paris, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Paris

Paris

France

Places 204
Stories 41

Related Stories and Lists

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near the Eiffel Tower for Curious Travelers

List

By Atlas Obscura

33 Places Famous for the Scandals That Occurred There

List

By Molly McBride Jacobson

Related Places

  • Exterior of Castle, with cemetery .

    Greenback, Tennessee

    Fortress of Faith (Greenback Castle)

    One man has spent decades faithfully constructing this unique brick and cinderblock castle.

  • La Maison Sculptée.

    Amanlis, France

    La Maison Sculptée

    An enchanting work of outsider art, full of whimsical sculptures and carvings.

  • The House of Mugs a/k/a The Cup House

    Collettsville, North Carolina

    The House of Mugs

    A cabin completely covered in coffee mugs, where visitors are welcome to leave one of their own—if they can find an empty nail.

  • Quetzalcoatl’s Nest

    Naucalpan, Mexico

    El Nido de Quetzalcóatl

    An Aztec snake god has taken the material form of an apartment complex.

  • Shangri-La Stone Village

    Prospect Hill, North Carolina

    Shangri-La Stone Village

    A retired tobacco farmer's pet project turned into a sturdy miniature city.

  • The Forevertron by Doc Evermor.

    Sumpter, Wisconsin

    Dr. Evermor's Forevertron

    "World's largest scrap metal sculpture" stands in an outdoor sculpture garden in the middle of Wisconsin.

  • Ganja, Azerbaijan

    Bottle House of Ganja

    A quirky house created entirely out of glass bottles combines a collector's spirit with an artist's flair.

  • Kilpeck, England

    Kilpeck Church Carvings

    Detailed sandstone carvings show an array of symbolism and adorable animals.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.