OUTSIDE
The drawings of the Building are dated 26 of march 1928 : they were submitted to the Town Hall at the same time as the building permit. In 1928 the drawings were done by hand, on graphite paper, with white pencil on a black background!
These drawings include:
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A metric schematic of the front façade exterior of the Residence
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A metric plan every flat, at each level.
Plan of the Ground Floor and the Facade of the Residence (Source: Municipal Archives of Maisons Laffitte)
Residence La Lorraine therefore includes:
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The ground floor is designed to accommodate 2 Shops: one on the left, the other on the right of the Main Gate. Each Shop consists of two parts
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The Shop itself where clients can buy goods
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The back shop
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The toilets, located at the back in the courtyard, were common to the 2 shops!
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The 1st floor consists of a unique apartment of 120 m2, which will accommodate the owner of the Building:
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Floors 2, 3 and 4 are built according to the same model. They welcome 2 apartments
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The 5th and last floor is divided into two parts : 4 "maid's rooms" on the street side, 3 attics on the courtyard side
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A backyard with a storage room, as well as a set of cellars in the basement, are also part of the building.
Did you know ?
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At a time when the electric elevator not very widespread, the 1st floor was the privileged floor: avoiding the nuisances related to the ground floor, living on the 1st floor made it possible to minimize the efforts rich people had to make to reach their apartment !
These drawings reveal the elements which already reflect the opulent character of the Mansion at the time. They are included, almost a century later in the statement of registration of the Residence La Lorraine to the Protected Heritage of the City:
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A rich facade in a pure Anglo-Norman style,
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Noble materials such as Pierre Meulière, typical of Bourgeoise constructions in Ile de France before 1930.
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Cantilevered bow window leaning on consoles designed like pilasters
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Decor in Bricks, Friezes and Bay Outlines
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Many entablatures and in particular large cornice under the passageway
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Long-sided roofs with large overhangs and exposed consoles
The rear facade, entirely in Meulière (see box "Did you know") is also composed of high windows opening onto a panoramic view of Maisons Laffitte with the Saint Nicolas Church in the first plan. It is enhanced by remarkably worked iron balustrades.
The shutters, called "Persiennes" in French, have 3 or 4 flaps on the front façade, 2 on the rear one. Aesthetic, robust and functional, they are typical of buildings in Paris Region from the XIXth century when the work of iron, later steel, expanded in construction industry.
Did you know ?
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Pierre Meulière is known for its robustness and its thermal and sound insulation qualities given by its impermeable and porous structure
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It is the Material of Excellence for many Villas, "Bourgeoises" Mansions and Private Hotels from the 16th century to the turn of the century in Ile de France.
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From 1920, Pierre Meulière, massively extracted from quarries around Paris, became rare. It is gradually disappearing from buildings where cheaper materials that are easier to work with (brick, then later concrete block, concrete, etc.) will be used.
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Even if these modern materials do not always have the exceptional properties of Pierre Meulière, they make it possible to build cheaper, faster, higher, more massively ...
