There’s nothing quite like a wall of books. They have a way of making any space–no matter how industrial–seem warm and inviting. La Maison de Verre–the famed House of Glass– is a perfect example …

Inviting or no, just imagine the conversation that transpired in that room. It was, after all, frequented by French surrealist poets and writers of the time including Louis Aragon, Paul Eluard, John Cocteau, and Max Jacob.

Click here to learn more about the architecture of the building–and view the “before” photos.

Click here to read The New York Times (26 August 2007) article that touches on the most recent owner.