ANDRÉ, Émile

(b. 1871 Nancy, d. 1933 Nancy)

French architect and craftsman. He studied architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts in Nancy and embarked on study tours to Egypt, Italy, Tunisia, Persia, and India before finally settling in Nancy in 1901. Initially, he collaborated with his father, the architect Charles André (1841-1921), who was one of the organizers of the Exposition des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Lorrains of 1894, which proved to be a prelude to the formation of the Ecole de Nancy seven years later.

In Nancy, he joined the Art Nouveau circle founded a decade earlier by Emile Gallé and established as the Ecole de Nancy in 1901. Here he taught applied art and architecture. With Henri Gutton (1873-1963), he planned a new suburban development of 28 villas, the Parc de Saurupt. He designed the concierge’s hut and two houses, Les Roches, for his own use and another, Les Glycines, for Fernbach, an industrialist from Lorraine. His residential houses in Nancy are notable for the façades having ingenious compositions using many different materials.

As a craftsman, André designed furniture.

Double door

Among the best testimonials to the �cole de Nancy are the collaborative works of the artists belonging to the group. They bear conspicuous witness to the quality of the collective work and confer a magnificent legitimacy on the alliance.

The present double door is a collective work of �mile Andr� (designer), Eug�ne Vallin (cabinetmaker, 1856-1936), and Jacques Gruber (glass artist, 1870-1936).

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Villa Les Glycines

With Henri Gutton (1873–1963), Andr� planned a new suburban development of 28 villas, the Parc de Saurupt in Nancy. He designed the concierge’s hut and two houses, Les Roches, for his own use and another, Les Glycines, for Fernbach, an industrialist from Lorraine. Although the former is built in rusticated stonework, while the latter is precisely dressed, the placing of openings in both is informally and asymmetrically arranged according to the location of the internal spaces. The variety of the openings also conveys a picturesque quality by use of verandahs, porches, bow windows and balconies.

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