APARTMENT in 7th (Invalides, Eiffel Tower, Orsay)
At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, a stylish apartment overlooking the Champ-de-Mars, Paris 7th.
In the early years of the 20th century, the City of Paris detached two large strips of land from the Champ-de-Mars on its long sides to create a residential quarter. Elegant avenues lined with sumptuous buildings and private mansions were opened up: avenues Charles Floquet and Emile Acollas, to the south-west; Elisée Reclus and Paul Deschanel, to the north-east. Both avenues have been subdivided so that, on the odd-numbered side of the former and the even-numbered side of the latter, the fronts of the residences face onto the Champ-de-Mars. As a result, the tall, wide French windows on the south-facing rear facade of the building at 6 avenue Elisee Reclus give it a direct, unobstructed view of one of the capital's three largest gardens, a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. In addition to the pleasure of an exceptional view over the foliage of the park and the nearby Eiffel Tower, there is the august serenity of an embassy district.
At numbers 4 and 6, the facade of the twin-storey building erected in 1907 is wider than it is high, evoking a palatial extension rather than a Haussmann-style elevation.
On either side of a median axis, on the ground floor, a pair of monumental round-headed iron double-doors and, on the upper floors, two symmetrical rows of tall windows; a colossal order punctuating the four storey building with engaged columns and wide pilasters; elegantly adorned with Louis XVI-style ornamental motifs: architectural Neo-classicism shines here in its last light of the day.
A wide staircase with marble steps and balusters follows a hall, another striking example of the ornamental repertoire of the late 18th century.
The apartment on the first floor, which can be reached by this staircase or by lift, spans 253 m2 and has a 3.20 m high ceiling.
Traversing from east to west, it benefits from generous light throughout the day. A double antechamber precedes the reception areas, which cover almost 120 m2: this series of three lounges, more harmonious than imposing, extends from the wide French window overlooking the avenue to the one opening onto a balcony overlooking the Champ-de-Mars. The decor of this triple reception room is of refined elegance: it is based on the classical ornamental repertoire - moulded panelling and picture rails, marble fireplaces with their trumeau, modillion cornices, glass doors with small jambs, lintels adorned with trophies or acanthus scrolls in bas-relief. Surrounding this vast triptych, which provides a powerful structure to the premises, are five bedrooms, one of which, the master bedroom, is accompanied by a bathroom clad in polychrome marble - both generously lit by a French window overlooking the parklands. The kitchen and pantry are worthy of this remarkable property.
A service studio and two cellars complete this property.
