Why does this building look like it was assembled from different puzzle pieces? It is because it was. Jacques Baumier built the central body in 1859 to anchor the new seaside resort of Houlgate. Then his son, René-Jacques, took over the project and added two pavilions and a domed rotunda in the early 1900s, making the facade even more ornate than his father's building.
It is a peculiar piece of coastal architecture. Even though it sits on Rue Baumier, it does not actually face the beach. Instead, it is held back by terraced gardens and a casino. The facade is a mix of colossal brick pilasters and fine ironwork - a very deliberate display of 19th-century luxury.
Today, the Grand Hôtel d'Houlgate is no longer hosting holidaymakers. It has been converted into a residential complex called résidence les Pléiades. The building was listed as a historical monument on May 12, 2000, covering the facades and roofs of the hotel including those of the caretaker's house.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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