Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Together with four seaside buildings built at Les Sables-d'Olonne in the 2nd quarter of the 20th century, this building is distinguished by its architecture adapted to the elevation of the land. Built in 1930 by architect Maurice Durand, it includes a granite base floor and gills crowned with carved skylights. The Mirasol building, a central part of the complex, houses a luxurious apartment with reception areas and circular room with ocean views. From the beginning, the ground floor welcomes shops, including a tea room.

The exuberant decor, created by sculptor Maurice Legendre, combines secular and mythological motifs. The roses of the berries, now masked by advertising signs, testify to this ornamental richness. The differentiated access for domestic servants and residents reflects the social organization of the time. Built on the former grounds of the Calvaire cemetery, the complex is listed in the Historical Monuments inventory in 1975 for its facades and roofs.

Entrepreneur Félix Gault assured the big work, while Maurice Legendre designed the figurative ornaments. The villa Mirasol, sponsored by Léon Herbert, a large landowner, illustrates the luxury of the seaside residences of the inter-war period. A restoration of the facades was carried out in 1995 to preserve this architectural heritage, emblematic of the Sables d'Olonne heritage.

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