This emblematic apartment building, built between 1932 and 1934 by Ottoman architect Garabed Hovnanian, was commissioned by developer Joachim Nahapiet, who wanted to create a building inspired by New York’s “apartment hotels”. Recognized as an icon of Nice Art Deco architecture, Gloria Mansions was listed as a Monument Historique in 1989.
The building has an L-shaped plan that follows the corner of Rue de France and Rue Paul Valéry. Constructed entirely of reinforced concrete, the building comprises two main sections with stores on the first floor and apartments on five upper levels.
The façade, made entirely of concrete, reveals soft lines drawn by the oriels and circular balconies that punctuate the building. Alternating centered and off-center balconies create a harmonious wave-like effect. The monumental wrought-iron door features geometric shapes, typical of Art Deco.
The building’s uniqueness stems from its materiality. The reinforced concrete is not concealed under plaster, but left unfinished, thus underlining the break with architectural tradition and distinguishing it from the buildings of Nice in the 1930s. The building illustrates both the formal elegance of its curves and the technical innovation of its materials, while injecting a breath of modernity into the city’s urban landscape.
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Colleen Bittel