Timeline

Origin and history

The house at 110-112 Avenue du Général-Leclerc in Alençon is an iconic late 19th-century building built in the last quarter of this century. It is distinguished by its architecture including a hanging garden, a gazebo and a cave, reflecting the landscape and decorative trends of the time, including the Rocaille style. These developments, typical of bourgeois residences, bear witness to a pronounced taste for naturalistic aesthetics and technical innovations, such as the use of metal and cement to structure green spaces.

The central greenhouse, erected in 1891, is the flagship of this complex. It illustrates the enthusiasm of the era for metal structures, which allowed to create spaces dedicated to flora while playing with light and perspectives. The back façade, adorned with metallic elements, and the garden, were protected by a registration order under the Historic Monuments on July 5, 2006, highlighting their heritage value.

The Rocaille decor and the landscaping of this property reveal a desire to marry art and nature, characteristic of the architectural achievements of the industrial bourgeoisie of the late nineteenth century. The whole, today private property, remains a significant example of the rapid adaptation of architects to new techniques, while meeting the aesthetic and social aspirations of their time.

The location of this house, in a major avenue in Alençon, reinforces its status as a symbol of prosperity and modernity for the city. Although information on its current use is limited, its inscription in the heritage protects a unique architectural and landscape heritage, where technical innovation and stylistic heritage combine.

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