Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

La Rotonde, located in Thaon-les-Vosges, in the East, is a corporate home built in the early 20th century between 1910 and 1920. Intended for the social, cultural and sporting life of the workers, it is part of a working-class city with 1,300 housing units run by the Thaon Laundry and Tinturerie. Its cross plan of Lorraine, combining regionalist and modern styles, makes it an emblematic building of the industrial architecture of the period. The architect Desclers designed the original structure, while Albert Hébrard realized its extensions in 1920.

The large room of the Rotonde is decorated with wall paintings by Löys Prat, adding an artistic dimension to this versatile place. Ranked Historic Monument by decree of 19 December 1986, the built-up ensemble reflects the employers' commitment to workers' welfare, typical of the social initiatives of the industrial revolution. Today it bears witness to the industrial and architectural history of the Vosges.

The building also illustrates the evolution of social relations at the beginning of the 20th century, where companies integrated collective infrastructure to retain their workforce. His inscription in the title of Historical Monuments underscores his heritage value, both for his architecture and for his role in local working memory.

External links