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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The former Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tourcoing is an emblematic building of Flemish neo-renaissance style, erected between 1903 and 1906 by architect Charles Planckaert. Located right in the city centre, Place Charles-et-Albert-Roussel, the building combines stone and brick, with a 50-metre belfry completed in 1910. It was designed to celebrate Tourcoing's economic prosperity, notably at the 1906 International Exhibition of Textile Industries, and was partly inspired by Lille's chamber of commerce, albeit earlier than the latter. Planckaert refused any remuneration for his work, offering his talent to his community out of dedication.

The monument is distinguished by its severe architecture in basement, softened by sill windows, broken pediments and an attic floor adorned with various skylights. The belfry, a landmark, dominates the whole, while the building is now listed in the Historic Monuments (Decree of 5 April 2019), alongside the former stock exchange and the post office. Initially a symbol of local industrial dynamism, the building has to be transformed into a luxury hotel (the Centaurus group) by 2026, under the brand Maison Albar Hotels, marking a new page in its history.

The architectural ensemble reflects the Golden Age of Tourcoing, a major textile town in the North, where the industrial bourgeoisie invested in prestigious buildings to display its power. Brick and blonde limestone, typical of the neo-flamand style, recall local traditions while affirming ambitious modernity. Planckaert's refusal to pay also illustrates the attachment of elites to their territory, where heritage and economic identity were closely intertwined.

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