Return To Avenue Rapp And Square Rapp

Our short visit to Pere Lachaise afforded us the opportunity to take a scenic cross-town bus back to Avenue Rapp, in the 7th, where we saw one of Paris' best art nouveau specimens during our night out May 27th: 29 Avenue Rapp. Our approach this time led us to Square Rapp, around the corner, and another stunning example of Paris art nouveau, 3 Square Rapp. Both buildings were designed by architect Jules Lavirotte in the early 1900s. 29 Avenue Rapp is known as the Lavirotte Building. Lavirotte himself lived on the 5th floor of 3 Square Rapp.

Stepping into Square Rapp: it's all trompe l'oeil on the
building facing you

On the right, a building that would arouse interest
anywhere else

Home of France's Theosophical Society (remember
those from Palmerston North and Wellington?!)

It's the one on the left, #3, that is the stunner

In perspective

Off the web

Moving on now to the Lavirotte Building, 29 Avenue Rapp,

and its incredible portal

As full a shot as I could get

Upper stories

Details

Symbolism and allusion all over, much of it sexual,
interpretation of which I will leave as a homework
assignment

I like trees as much as the next person, but this one
is really pushing it

A couple more pix off the web, from a different season or different
time

Obviously, Lavirotte was not overly concerned
with symmetry

But the view is nice

Walking back to the bus stop, another beauty; you can almost
pick a street at random, at least in the single-digit arrondisements
and the 16th, and see something of architectural interest