Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building located at 74 boulevard Jacquard in Calais, a former annex office of the Automobile Club of the North of France, is an emblematic building of Art Deco architecture from the 2nd quarter of the 20th century. Built in concrete, it illustrates the stylistic tendencies of its era, including decorative abstraction, the signature of its main architect, Roger Poyé, assisted by Gustave Poubel, from Roubaix. This choice of geometrical materials and motifs reflects the technical and aesthetic innovation of the 1920s and 1930s, when reinforced concrete is a symbol of modernity.

Ranked a historic monument for its façade in 2000, the building embodies the architectural dynamism of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region (now Hauts-de-France) after the First World War. The collaboration between Poyé, a local figure, and Poubel, a Romanian architect, highlights the artistic exchanges between industrial cities in the north. The building, now privately owned, also bears witness to the rise of automobiles and accompanying regional clubs, marking a turning point in the mobility and sociability of the 20th century.

The accuracy of its location is assessed as "a priori satisfactory" (note 6/10), and its official address, confirmed by the Merimée base, makes it a still visible urban landmark. Although its access to the public is not mentioned, its protected facade remains a studied example of industrial Art Deco, mixing functionality and abstract ornaments, characteristic of Roger Poyé's achievements in post-war reconstruction.

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