Facade restoration

Rue Blondel, in Paris’s 3rd arrondissement, presents a wide diversity of façades—Haussmannian, modernist, and much older ones—whose colors reflect the history of the neighborhood.

The Atelier d’Architecture Antoine de Gironde led the project management for the façade restoration of two buildings belonging to the same condominium, whose plaster façades needed to blend harmoniously into this urban landscape protected by the City of Paris. The approach was conceived at the scale of the street: a chromatic gradation was developed, starting from the Paris stone tone of the Haussmannian building and extending toward the façades further down the street. This palette was validated by the Architecte des Bâtiments de France.

Thanks to the Atelier’s preliminary diagnostic, structural works had been anticipated. However, the actual condition of the structure, revealed during the removal of the render, proved to be far more deteriorated than expected, requiring the replacement in oak—identical to the original—of the most damaged structural elements, thus ensuring the building’s long‑term stability.

The cast‑iron railings were restored and the window surrounds with crossettes were carefully rebuilt. The zinc banding was redesigned to better protect the façades from weathering, particularly from prevailing winds. The chimney stacks and chimney pots were thoroughly cleaned and restored.

From structure to ornament, the project reflects a comprehensive vision that extends to the scale of the street.