I don't often post a collage, but I thought this building merited it. I walked past on Friday, and took a quick I-phone shot, as it intrigued me. I thought it was a bank (Crédit Agricole obviously has the ground floor), and I thought the strange windows were a question of security. However, on further investigation I discovered that this is an architect designed building and is part of Fouquet's Barrière Hotel in Paris (albeit situated behind the main Fouquet's Restaurant on the Champs Elysées). It is very odd. All in grey, whilst the other buildings beside it are stone coloured. It looks as if all the original windows have been boarded up and new windows put in random places ... and it's the work of architect Edouard François. Apparently he had mouldings made to resemble the Haussmanian style and then attached them to the front of various parts of the group of buildings to make them all look the same. He visualised the windows as being paintings hanging on the walls! The grey walls (in cement) he chose to match the grey of Parisian roofs. There you go! Who knew? I certainly didn't!
So fascinating! I definitely googled this one! You did a great job capturing the different elements of this remodeled hotel and a collage was the perfect way to present them all. :-)
