Red and white brick building, Rue de l’Alouette

Mmodest early 20th-century residential building with a decorative brick façade in red and white. The upper floors feature arched and rectangular windows fitted with white roller shutters and framed by patterned brickwork, with wrought-iron balconies painted dark red. The cornice is supported by carved wooden brackets, adding ornamental detail. The ground floor contrasts with light vertical paneling, a row of windows with curtains, and a dark red entrance door. The overall appearance combines functional design with small decorative touches typical of working-class urban architecture.

I really like this building façade, beautifully composed from two colors of brick. The patch-up at the bottom, with the wooden storefront façade, is absolutely ugly and clashes sharply with the original architectural beauty of the whole. Unfortunately, this is the case for many homes, buildings, houses, and former shops, where the storefront has disappeared and has often been replaced by wooden panels to hide the interior of the room.