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Writer's pictureFranck BRUGUIERE

Art Deco Style architecture in Toulouse.

Updated: Jun 9



  • INTRODUCTION:


As you now know, Toulouse is a city built of terracotta bricks, hence its name: " pink city ".

But over the centuries, our city has seen the appearance of new architectural trends.

Today, I wish show you the art deco architectural courage in Toulouse.


But art deco is also an artistic movement that appeared in the 20 armies in the war order.

It's the period of the Roaning Twenties, we immerse ourselves in the world of the Great Gasby, with his dresses, his short hair, the cigarette barrels lying down and rolling around in Bugattis.

It is also the era of jazz, Carlos Gardel and Greta Garbo.


The Décor is characterized by the sobriety of its lines and the richness of the ornamentation.

Mosaies were also used in the 1920s for their modern and hygienic side.


  • End of " art mouveau" replaced by " art deco ":



This hous built in 1908 by the architect " Marius Pujol " and in new style and as such it is remarkable.

It is characterized by a circular window with vertical stone, embrasure and jamb.

This type of architecture is characterized by floral exuberance.



Adress: 57, allée de Brienne 31 000 Toulouse.


  • Remarkable art deco style buildings in Toulouse:


Three art deco style houses and a magnificent building in the Saint-Sernin basilica church district:



This remarkable buldings are located on Bernard street, opposite the Saint-Sernin basilica.

Here you will find three set back houses built in the 1920s forming a representative ensemble on art deco.



Just after its houses, you will discover a magnificent art deco style buildnig.

It bears the name of " Bonzom " buiding.

It was buit by the architect " Edmond Pilette " between 1919 and 1920.

It is art deco style, with its glazed brick decor, it is magnificent mosaic and the geometric patterns of the ironwork, the door and the guardrails.



Adress: 13, Saint Bernard street 31 000 Toulouse.


Labor exchange building, Place Saint-Sernin:



It is a real architectural shock since this building stands right opposite the since basilica : It's the meeting between roman art and art deco.

It is charactarized by the general rounding of the facade, the typology used insert into the pediment with the bas relief technique.

Also with the initials incorporated into the ironwork of the door " CGT " , a large French union and " BT " labor market.

On the typically art deco facade we find bas-reliefs representing all trades.


Adress: 19, Place Saint-Sernin 31 000 Toulouse.


The study and heritage library : " University library ":



It's facade is neoclassical.

But the presence of ironwork in the grilles and balconies of bas-reliefs sculpture, proves one again the presence of the art deco style in Toulouse.

The sulptures depict ancient scenes and present numerous allegories.

We find in particular Ulysses, Apollo and nine muses.


We will notice on a ground all around the two statues present at the entrance to the library, a blue mosaic parterre typical of art dco.


Outside the library:



Inside the library:



Adress: 1, Périgord street 31 000 Toulouse.


Two remarkable art deco style buildings in Toulouse in the Victor Hugo market district:


The " white Bear Hotel " building:



It was a Hotel for a travelers, rebuilt between 1939 and 1941 by the architect " Jean Valette " , one of the representatives art deco architecture in Toulouse.

Typically art deco, the buiding has a rounded shape, the floors are separated by a wide bands of white plaster, which alternates with brick facings.

A Genoese cornice and a roof terrace surmont the building.


Adress: 2, Victor Hugo street 31 000 Toulouse.


The second art deco style building in the Victor Hugo district:



This buiding looks very similar to the buiding described previously.

It is charactarized by its rounded shape and has the same characteristies on the advance building.


Adress: 3 bis, rue du Rampart Villeneuve 31 000 Toulouse " Benjamun building " .



The facade of the old cinema : the " UGC ":



Here again architectural shock between this typical art deco facade and the Toulouse terracotta brick buildings.

This clever facade built in 1930 by " Robert Armandary " .

It has a bay window and its rounded lines are characteristic of art deco.

Long in the cinema, this place will become the location os a nationally known Frech departement store offices and a bar with a roof terrace will provide a breathtaking view of Toulouse.



Adress: 3, Place du Président Thomas Wilson 31 000 Toulouse.


The " NAKACHE " swimming pool and the " Jean Mermoz " room near the Toulouse Stadium:


The room : Jean Mermoz.



It was built in 1934.

The " Jean Mermoz " room is a 1 700 seat event room and is also clearly a art deco style building.

We see it especially at the level of the magnificent staircase which overlooks its entrance and with its large windows.



The swimming pool : " NAKACHE " .




The entrance bears the number of minarets.

It is clearly in a decorative style and reminds us of the bow and of a boat.

It's dating from 1931.
















It is the largest open-air pool in Europe.

The whole is completed by a central building with a changing room and shower.

It is also art deco style with sculptures of " Porayre " and " Manau " and an allegory of sports in gray flamed by " Riollet ".



Adress: Esplanade Georges Vallerey et allée Gabriel Biénès 31 000 Toulouse.


The " Jausselay " building.



This buildind mixes art deco and modern art contrasts with the environment which is very conventional here.

Indeed, here the architecture is in the Hausmanian style.

It is architect " Léon Jaussely " who is the author and who at the time had built it for the regional daily " La Dépêche du Midi " .

This facade is almost a real rublish with drawings evoking journalistic sections, echo, fashion, politics and litterature.

All this around the central icon of the woman, Muse and patron.

Nowdays, this buiding is occupied by a large Frech telephone group.


Adress: 42 bis, Alsace Lorraine street 31 000 Toulouse.


  • List of art deco style buildings and houses in Toulouse:


Building in Camille Pujol Street :



Toulouse central post office building: 9, Lafayette street 31 000 Toulouse.



Building: 1, Avenue Honoré Serres 31 000 Toulouse.



Building: boulevard Carnot Toulouse.



Building: 2 allée François Verdier and 2, rue de la brasserie 31 000 Toulouse. " Building Thurier ".



HLM du Grand Rond: 18, Saint Anne street 31 000 Toulouse.



Music kiosk: Place Marius Pinel, by the architect ' Jean Montariol " by 1933.