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Origin and history

The house located in 47 Gambetta square in Bordeaux is part of a major architectural complex of the city, designed in the eighteenth century. This square, formerly called Dauphine Square, was built around 1745 under the leadership of the Intendant of Tourny, as part of a project to improve and clean up urban areas. The facades, standardized by a classical ordinance, were financed by a loan contracted by the Jurats in 1750. The original plan included forebody and balustrades, but a simplified project, proposed in 1762 by an unnamed architect, was adopted by Intendant Boutin. This new design removed the superfluous ornament elements to favor a sober entanglement and a high, while maintaining the style of the first half of the eighteenth century.

The buildings of Gambetta Square illustrate the architectural harmony sought in Bordeaux during this period. Their typical structure includes a ground floor with arcades with bosses, a discreet entresol, and a first floor decorated with windows topped with carved mascarons and wrought iron balconies. Some buildings include a second floor. The square, rectangular in shape, was completed between 1770 and 1780, although its style reflected earlier influences. It became a strategic urban hub, linked to the city's main arteries. The facade and roof of this house were protected by an order of inscription under the Historical Monuments on November 15, 1927.

The strict order of facades, made of stone, met a desire for modernization and prestige for Bordeaux, then in full economic expansion thanks to the maritime trade. Gambetta Square, with its arcades and balconies, symbolizes the balance between functionality (to house shops on the ground floor) and classic aesthetics. Its layout is part of a broader dynamic of urban transformation initiated by the royal stewards, aiming to make Bordeaux a city that was both practical and elegant, like the major European cities of the time.

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