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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The town hall of Beauvais-sur-Matha, located in the Charente-Maritime department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, is a remarkable example of Art Deco architecture built between 1928 and 1930. This project began around 1926 when the then mayor asked architect André Guillon to design a new building, replacing the old demolished town hall. The building is distinguished by the stylistic elements typical of the Art Deco movement, such as a base in opus incertum, bays decorated with drapery and rose motifs, as well as a geometric pediment housing the clock and republican motto, framed by floral garlands.

The work, carried out between 1928 and 1930, resulted in a building whose main façade focuses on the most striking features of the style. The axial staircase, the decorative walls, and the hollow and gorge games extending the architectural lines illustrate the influence of this artistic current on the public buildings of the inter-war period. The registration of the town hall as historic monuments by decree of 23 November 2009 underlines its heritage value, both for its architecture and for its role in local history.

The choice of architect André Guillon, although little documented elsewhere in the available sources, reflects a desire to modernise and embellish the city centre of Beauvais-sur-Matha. The building, owned by the commune, remains today a symbol of the administrative and cultural identity of the locality, while at the same time bearing witness to the architectural changes of the early twentieth century in France. Its 20th century heritage label also reinforces its recognition as a key element of regional heritage.

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