L'ARCHITECTURE DE REIMS

Reims suffered from war damage more than most cities/towns. It is said that before the First World War Reims had 6700 houses after the war 60! Even if these figures are not totally correct it illustrates the magnitude of the destruction. Damage was again done in the Second World War but not to the same scale. There was great building activity after the 1st WW to restore the town. This was not to reproduce a facsimile of what had been there. Reims took to the Art Deco movement, current architecture style at the time, for inspiration.

Plaque on many of the reconstructed houses and other buildings.

Shops below with decorative elements higher up.

Some of the reconstruction was more elaborate. A fine example is the La Bibliothèque Carnegie de Reims, the Carnegie Library. This was built by a wealthy American philanthropist and given to the city of Reims. It encompasses the Art Deco style and carried out with amazing quality. The library is still in use today. Great surroundings.

The lantern in the foyer, about 3 metres tall.

Detail of the staircase balustrade.

The library card index. Now reduced to a PC.