A jewel of Art Nouveau architecture, the Hôtel Mezzara in the 16ᵉ arrondissement will house a museum dedicated to one of its masters, Hector Guimard, by 2027.
Hôtel Mezzara, Guimard’s Art Nouveau masterpiece
On Rue Jean de Fontaine, this building is intriguing! Surrounded by a Haussmann-style building on one side, and a 70s complex on the other, both taller, the building at number 60, with its three storeys (only), rounded openings and plant-inspired ironwork, is an object of curiosity.
Built in 1910 for the industrialist Paul Mezzara, this Art Nouveau gem was designed by its figurehead Hector Guimard, known in the capital for having designed the emblematic entrances to the metro, as well as the Castel Béranger, also on rue Jean de la Fontaine.
More than 100 years after its construction, the Hôtel Mezzara, listed as a historic monument, is about to write a new chapter in its history. Once the residence of Mezzara, this private mansion housed a private school in the 1930s, then a hostel for young girls until 2015. Soon it will be home to a museum dedicated to Guimard!
The opening of a Guimard museum in Paris
It’s a two-decade-long project that’s finally coming to fruition. The Cercle Guimard, an association promoting the architect’s work, has announced the opening of a future museum dedicated to Hector Guimard and Parisian Art Nouveau.
The museum will open at the end of 2027, at the earliest, and will enable the public to make the premises their own (until now, the hotel has been open to the public by reservation only). In a few years’ time, the public will be able to discover this jewel and its 750 m² of space. Inside and out, the architect has put his talent to work in the service of his creative vision: a magisterial metal staircase topped by a glass roof, a living room entirely furnished by the architect and overlooking the garden…Hôtel Mezzara embodies the quintessential Guimard style!
In addition to giving the public a chance to appreciate this masterpiece, the museum will provide a unique opportunity to rediscover the architect’s work, thanks to a collection of pieces drawn from several fonds, an immersive experience, and a boutique that will reissue some of Guimard’s creations!
📍 Location: Hôtel Mezzara – 60 Rue Jean de la Fontaine, 75016 Paris
📆 Date: opening planned for late 2027
More about the future Musée Hector Guimard