Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Clamart Ferrari was founded in 1878 by the Duchess of Galliera, Maria Brignole Sale De Ferrari, in the Hauts-de-Seine department. Designed by architect Léon Ginain, the building extends over 11,000 m2 and integrates into a two-hectare park. It could accommodate more than 150 people. The central chapel, inspired by Byzantines, and the polychrome brick laundry illustrate the architectural eclecticism of the period. Since 2009, the institution has been headed by the French branch of the Sovereign Order of Malta.

The construction, carried out between 1877 and 1888, includes innovative elements such as the castle of water in reinforced cement, made by Joseph Monier, pioneer of this technique. The laundry, by Prosper Bobin, combines metallurgy and architectural rationalism. The Hospice was initially run by the Sisters of Wisdom until 1965. Partially classified as historical monuments in 1983, 2003 and 2019, it reflects the evolution of charitable institutions in the 19th century.

The site consists of three horse iron wings surrounding the park, as well as a square courtyard surrounded by adjacent buildings. The chapel, with a single nave and semicircular apse, is illuminated by six curved windows. A slender bell tower provides access to the garden. The old laundry house now houses a media library. It is part of the Franciscan hospital and religious heritage, reflecting the philanthropic values of its founder.

The foundation of the Duchess of Galliera also included the Orphelinate of Fleury in Meudon. The foundation's headquarters, the Ferrari Hospice, embodies the alliance between aristocratic patronage and architectural innovation. Its successive classification underscores its heritage value, both for its facades and its interiors (chapel, crypt) and its water castle, an early example of the use of reinforced cement.

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