Building à Bordeaux en Gironde

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The idea of a royal square and a uniform facade of the docks along the Garonne gradually emerged. In 1729, architect Jacques Gabriel proposed three projects to structure this space. In 1731 he built the Quai de la Douane and the first facades bordering the river. This initial project, supported by intendant Claude Boucher, led in 1746 to the acceptance of the jurats for the creation of an organized quay.

When Boucher died, intendant Aubert de Tourny took over the project with Ange-Jacques Gabriel, son of Jacques Gabriel. Together, they completed in 1748 a monumental perspective extending the Place Royale (future Place de la Bourse). This architectural ordinance is characterized by an arcade base in the middle of the hangar, two square floors and a mansard-drilled roof. The facades, although partially altered (disappearance of balconies or wrought iron supports), retain their unit thanks to their original frames and larmies.

The arcades on the ground floor, originally designed to unify the whole, have sometimes been modified by the installation of shops. Despite these transformations, the building remains a major testimony of the Bordeaux urban planning of the eighteenth century, marked by a desire for symmetry and grandeur. The façade and roof were protected by a registration order in 1951, highlighting their heritage value.

The project is part of a broader process of modernisation in Bordeaux, reflecting the influence of the Enlightenment and the desire to compete with the major European cities. The quays, once a disparate harbour area, become a symbol of power and architectural harmony, mixing commercial functionality and classical aesthetics.

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