Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The buildings of the Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, located at 308 boulevard de la Providence in Saint-Denis (La Réunion), constitute a large administrative complex created in 1970 by architect Jean Bossu. This complex consists of three buildings, one of which uses an architectural technique called "scissor", characteristic of the last creative period of Bossu. The entrance is marked by an awning inspired by the motifs of Le Corbusier, while the facades play on the thickness to create two distinct aspects.

The whole, particularly well preserved, was included in the additional inventory of Historic Monuments on August 26, 2011. This classification covers buildings and their soil (cadastre DL 157), recognizing the heritage value of this modern architecture. The exact location is sometimes subject to impreciseness, with an alternative address mentioned as 0 Alley of the Forest.

Jean Bossu, the architect of this project, has worked on volumes and perspectives, combining administrative functionality and aesthetic research. The building reflects the influences of modern movement, notably through the use of bold geometric shapes and attention to structural details. The Reunion, overseas department, thus retains a significant architectural testimony of this period.

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