3/11/23 - Heritage - Paris - Fortunately, it’s not all bad news. We reported a year and a half ago (see news item of 24/2/22) on the threats hanging over the Molitor Pool, a fine example of Art Deco, a style that has been vandalised too often in recent years (see articles). On the side of the monument’s defenders, for once, was the mayor of the 11th arrondissement, François Vauglin, who isn’t just fighting bad battles ike the disastrous redevelopment he’s planning for the boulevards Jules Ferry and Richard Lenoir [1].
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- 1. Oberkampf Pool
Photo: Didier Rykner - See the image in its page
At the request of the mayor, this swimming pool, whose history we briefly retrace, was the subject of an application for protection as a historic monument, as confirmed to us by the Île-de-France regional directorate of historic monuments. In the end, the dossier resulted in the pool being "inscrite", a lesser level of protection than "classement". The order signed by the prefect reads: "Considering that the Molitor Pool was one of the first swimming pools to be built outside the Seine in Paris in the 1880s, at a time when it was part of the hygiene and medicinal activities of a bathing establishment, and that as such it represents a period of transition between cold baths in the river and modern swimming pools devoted solely to swimming, that it retains a sufficient level of authenticity to reveal part of its original interest and its modifications during the 1920s, and that for these reasons it is of sufficient interest from the point of view of art history to make its preservation desirable. "
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- 2. Molitor Pool, the glass glass blocks cover
Photo: Didier Rykner - See the image in its page
Admittedly, the protection does not apply to the entire building in which the swimming pool is located, which we hope will not pose a problem when work is carried out in the future as part of a property development. The following elements are listed: "the swimming pool itself, including its glass blocks cover [ill. 2] and the surrounding terrace, the vestibule with its stained glass windows [ill. 3 and 4], the chimney in the courtyard". These are obviously all the interesting features that we were able to see during our visit. The fact remains that this partial protection can sometimes pose problems when major renovations are carried out on a building. It is to be hoped that they are sufficient to ensure that the building is well preserved.
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- 3. Jean-Baptiste Anglade (1841-1913)
Molitor Pool stained glass window, c. 1886
Photo: Didier Rykner - See the image in its page
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- 4. Jean-Baptiste Anglade (1841-1913)
Vitrail de la piscine Oberkampf, vers 1886
Photo : Didier Rykner - See the image in its page
It should be remembered that another Art Deco swimming pool, much more important from the point of view of history and art, the Molitor Pool, which was also listed as a historic monument, was nonetheless almost entirely destroyed to be rebuilt supposedly "identically" as we explained in several articles. This confirms once again that although "inscription" is a good measure, it is sometimes insufficient to ensure optimum conservation of a monument. We should add that, as we also regretted in another article, here again the opinion of the owner (who recently acquired the property) was requested by the DRAC Île-de-France ("I would be grateful if you could let me know your favourable opinion concerning this proposal for protection as a historic monument"). While it is normal to keep the owner informed throughout the process so that, as far as possible, the measure can be taken with his approval, "inscription" does not require a favourable opinion from the owner. Fortunately, the owner, MG Holding, has declared itself in favour of this protection, which is to be welcomed, but we will always wonder what would have happened otherwise.
Le Parisien, which was probably the first to announce the good news in this article, writes: "The Ministry of Culture has asked [the owner] for his agreement, a sine qua non condition for classification as a Historic Monument. "He has accepted the classement, which he could have refused", rejoices François Vauglin". This shows the great confusion that reigns in the minds of the public (and obviously also of town councillors, and even the Ministry of Culture, which is more embarrassing) over the notions of "inscription" and "classement". No, according to the law, inscription - which is what we’re talking about here, not classement - cannot be refused by the owner, and the Heritage Code is very clear on this point.
As the swimming pool is in fairly good condition, it has even been able to reopen to the public, as reported in Le Parisien. Yes, good news is rare, and when it does come, it’s something to celebrate.