Design for a Mass-Operational House: Staircase Construction

This architectural drawing by Hector Guimard presents a standardized staircase design for affordable housing—a practical application of his evolving modernist principles. The plan and elevation drawings demonstrate Guimard's shift from the ornamental Art Nouveau style that defined his Paris Métro entrances toward functional, repeatable construction methods. Labeled in French as "Escalier de la Maison Type Standard" (Staircase of the Standard-Type House), the design reflects early twentieth-century efforts to address housing shortages through industrialized building techniques. The detailed technical specifications and modular approach reveal Guimard's engagement with contemporary debates about efficiency, standardization, and democratic access to well-designed domestic space.