The Egyptian House of Strasbourg

Located in Strasbourg's Neustadt district, the Egyptian House (Maison Égyptienne) is a distinctive apartment building completed in 1905. Designed by Franz Scheyder, a local architect, the building combines Art Nouveau with an idealized vision of ancient Egyptian aesthetics. This architectural eclecticism reflects the period's fascination with orientalism and experimentation. The building's most striking feature is the large, colorful fresco that dominates the facade. Painted by Adolf Zilly, the fresco depicts Egyptian figures, including a pharaoh and his wife, surrounded by lotus flowers, papyrus, and birds. The fresco is framed by painted columns, and the building incorporates other Art Nouveau elements such as cast-iron balconies with bat motifs. The Egyptian House stands as a unique example of polychrome exterior fresco in Strasbourg. While the Egyptian House is a residential building and not open for tours, its eye-catching facade is easily visible from the street. It offers a glimpse into the architectural trends of the early 20th century, when Strasbourg's Neustadt district was developed as a modern, forward-looking city under German rule.