The fascinating story of a life dedicated to architecture.

This book aims to enrich the professional and personal portrait of Charles Garnier – beyond the grand staircase and the Palais Garnier – by exploring his "other" works. His private constructions are little known. From the villa he designed for himself in Italy to the observatory in Nice, by way of the workshops and storage spaces for the Palais Garnier’s sets or the concert hall and game room at the Monte-Carlo Casino, this book pays tribute to one of the greatest architects of the 19th century.