Sainte Jeanne d'Arc Church, Nice

The Church of Saint Joan of Arc (Sainte Jeanne d'Arc) is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Nice, France. Noticeable for its original architecture, the church is dedicated to Joan of Arc.

The style of this church is controversial among the inhabitants of Nice, judged ugly by some. The church is sometime nicknamed "the Meringue" for its white color.

History
In 1914, Father Quillery was appointed parish priest of the new parish of Saint Jérome. The first projects for a new church are proposed. French architect Louis Castel initiated in 1914 its construction and built a crypt. After World War I, another French architect Jacques Droz constructed in 1924 a second crypt. Both crypts are the support of the new building. In 1931 a concrete basement is laid over the two crypts. Between 1932 and 1934, the church was built using reinforced concrete. Droz employed the technique of the thin shell concrete for the domes that have a thickness of 45 cm at the base but only 8 cm at the top.

Architecture
The use of reinforced concrete, a new material at that time, allowed an original construction in a style influenced by Art Deco. Eight ellipsoidal domes support three larger ovoid domes. In the interior, these three large domes are only supported by four pillars, which allows an astonishing interior volume with 25 m high vaults. The angular form of the 64 m steeple is in opposition with the strong curves of the domes. The 95 sqm fresco paintings of the stations of the Cross were executed by Eugène Klementieff in 1934. The paintings are influenced by Russian Cubism, Italian Quattrocento and Byzantine Orthodox icons.