Jules Henri de Sibour
Encyclopedia
Jules Gabriel Henri de Sibour (December 23, 1872-November 4, 1938) was a French architect.
Born in Paris, France to Vicomte Gabriel de Sibour and Mary Louisa Johnson of Belfast, Maine
, he came to the United States as a child and attended St. Paul's School in New Hampshire. He received a degree from Yale University
in 1896, where he was a member of Skull and Bones
. He then worked with Ernest Flagg
and Bruce Price
in New York before returning to Paris to study at the École des Beaux-Arts
. In 1898, he married Margaret Marie Clagett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Clagett, of Washington, DC and had three sons: Henri Louis, Jacques Blaise, and Jean Raymond.
After Bruce Price died in May 1903, de Sibour inherited the practice and continued to work under the name of Bruce Price & de Sibour. From 1908 to 1911, de Sibour maintained offices in both New York and Washington, D.C.; then, a year after moving to the District of Columbia in 1910, de Sibour closed his New York office. From 1908 through 1922, de Sibour maintained an office in the Hibbs Building, then moved to the Edmonds Building in 1923.
Although de Sibour’s most prominent works are grand dwellings and embassy buildings, such as the Embassy of Uzbekistan
at 1746 Massachusetts Avenue, he also designed dozens of office buildings, apartment buildings, and a diverse range of structures. In 1910, de Sibour designed the Investment Building, a nine-story bank and office, constructed by J. L. Marshall at 15th Street and K Street NW. In 1911, be designed a nine-story office building at 1512 H Street NW and in 1912, a four-story apartment building at 1409 15th Street NW and a five-story apartment building at 1785 Massachusetts Avenue NW. In 1922, de Sibour designed an apartment building, remarkably similar to his design for the 1923 Hamilton Hotel, at 1200 16th Street NW that was later converted to become the Jefferson Hotel. In 1923, J.H. deSibour also designed the Lee House, an eight-story hotel at the northwest corner of 15th Street and L Street NW, for the Kenwood Corporation.
Working in the Beaux-Arts style throughout his career, de Sibour’s buildings are characterized by their extensive applied decoration and the French influence in their design. Additional notable buildings include the Chevy Chase Club, the University Club, and the Riggs Theatre and Office Building. He also designed the French Embassy at 2221 Kalorama Road NW, the Wilkins Residence serving as the Peruvian Chancery at 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, the Moore Residence serving as the Canadian Chancery at 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, and the Stewart Residence serving as the Embassy of Luxembourg at 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW.
Born in Paris, France to Vicomte Gabriel de Sibour and Mary Louisa Johnson of Belfast, Maine
Belfast, Maine
Belfast is a city in Waldo County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 6,668. Located at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River on Penobscot Bay, Belfast is the county seat of Waldo County...
, he came to the United States as a child and attended St. Paul's School in New Hampshire. He received a degree from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1896, where he was a member of Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
. He then worked with Ernest Flagg
Ernest Flagg
Ernest Flagg was a noted American architect in the Beaux-Arts style. He was also an advocate for urban reform and architecture's social responsibility.-Biography:...
and Bruce Price
Bruce Price
Bruce Price was the American architect of many of the Canadian Pacific Railway's Château-type stations and hotels...
in New York before returning to Paris to study at the École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts
École des Beaux-Arts refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The most famous is the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, now located on the left bank in Paris, across the Seine from the Louvre, in the 6th arrondissement. The school has a history spanning more than 350 years,...
. In 1898, he married Margaret Marie Clagett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Clagett, of Washington, DC and had three sons: Henri Louis, Jacques Blaise, and Jean Raymond.
After Bruce Price died in May 1903, de Sibour inherited the practice and continued to work under the name of Bruce Price & de Sibour. From 1908 to 1911, de Sibour maintained offices in both New York and Washington, D.C.; then, a year after moving to the District of Columbia in 1910, de Sibour closed his New York office. From 1908 through 1922, de Sibour maintained an office in the Hibbs Building, then moved to the Edmonds Building in 1923.
Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, D.C.
The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, D.C., , is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United States and a contributing property to the Massachusetts Avenue Historic District.The embassy is located at 1746 Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, on Embassy Row in Washington, D.C...
at 1746 Massachusetts Avenue, he also designed dozens of office buildings, apartment buildings, and a diverse range of structures. In 1910, de Sibour designed the Investment Building, a nine-story bank and office, constructed by J. L. Marshall at 15th Street and K Street NW. In 1911, be designed a nine-story office building at 1512 H Street NW and in 1912, a four-story apartment building at 1409 15th Street NW and a five-story apartment building at 1785 Massachusetts Avenue NW. In 1922, de Sibour designed an apartment building, remarkably similar to his design for the 1923 Hamilton Hotel, at 1200 16th Street NW that was later converted to become the Jefferson Hotel. In 1923, J.H. deSibour also designed the Lee House, an eight-story hotel at the northwest corner of 15th Street and L Street NW, for the Kenwood Corporation.
Working in the Beaux-Arts style throughout his career, de Sibour’s buildings are characterized by their extensive applied decoration and the French influence in their design. Additional notable buildings include the Chevy Chase Club, the University Club, and the Riggs Theatre and Office Building. He also designed the French Embassy at 2221 Kalorama Road NW, the Wilkins Residence serving as the Peruvian Chancery at 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, the Moore Residence serving as the Canadian Chancery at 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, and the Stewart Residence serving as the Embassy of Luxembourg at 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW.