Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house located Place Gambetta (former Dauphine Square) in Bordeaux is part of a major 18th century urban project. Around 1745, the intendant of Tourny launched the creation of this square on lands west of Dauphine and Dijeaux Gates, as part of a vast plan of sanitation and beautification of the city. This project aimed to structure the urban space with a classic ordinance, in harmony with the other Bordeaux achievements of the time, such as the Place de la Bourse.

In 1750, the Jurats of Bordeaux made a loan to finance the construction of the uniform facades of the houses surrounding the square. These buildings, designed according to a standardized model, included an arcade ground floor, a noble floor with window doors decorated with mascarons and wrought iron balconies, as well as an attic and attic. In 1762 the architect proposed a simplified plan, removing the initial forebody and balustrades to adopt a sober entablement, reflecting the style of the first half of the eighteenth century despite the late completion of the square between 1770 and 1780.

Gambetta Square, rectangular in shape, became a strategic crossroads where the main roads converged. The stone façades, characterized by bossed arcades and aligned windows, illustrate the architectural unit sought after. In 1927, the façade and roof of one of these buildings, located at 7 Gambetta Square, were classified as Historic Monument, recognizing their heritage value. The ensemble bears witness to the urbanistic ambition of the Enlightenment in Bordeaux, combining functionality and classic aesthetics.

External links