Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The former Condition des Soies de Saint-Étienne, built in the 1st quarter of the 20th century (completed in 1910), was dedicated to the technical operations of the ribbon factory: decreuse, weighing and conditioning of silk under controlled humidity. The building, designed by architects Léon and Marcel Lamaizière, is distinguished by its Art Nouveau style, with white stone facades decorated with motifs of mulberry trees and ribbons, symbols of the local industry. The interior decoration, such as the woodwork of the steering room or wrought iron grilles, reflects this theme. The main entrance, at the corner of the streets, features a curved ramp staircase and a cartridge engraved with a "CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONDITIONS OF SOIES".

The project was commissioned in 1909 by the Chambre de commerce de Saint-Étienne, chaired by Clément Brossy, an influential ribbon manufacturer. The latter acted directly on the plans to make it a "architectural flagship" of the ribbon industry. The building also housed offices, an apartment for the director, and technical rooms organized around a square courtyard. After the closure of the Soy Condition in 1962, the premises hosted the Higher Institute of Commerce (1969–1997) and were then sold to the General Council in 2001, resulting in the destruction of the last specific developments. The facades, roofs and staircases were classified as historical monuments in 2002.

The materials used — Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux stone (Drôme) for the facades, Estaillades stone (Vaucluse) for the sculptures, and Villebois stone (Ain) for the porch — underline the care given to the construction. The architect's signature, "L.LAMAIZIÈRE Architecte, M.LAMAIZIÈRE Arch.D.P.L.G.", appears on rue d'Arcole. The building on courtyard was raised by two levels in 1955. Today, the building, owned by the department, bears witness to the golden age of the Stephanese ribbon industry, a major economic sector until the mid-20th century.

External links