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Origin and history

The house located in Place Gambetta (former Dauphine Square) in Bordeaux is part of a major architectural complex of the 18th century, designed as part of the major urban development works led by the intendant of Tourny. Around 1745, the latter ordered the development of a square on lands west of Dauphine and Dijeaux Gates, with a view to rehabilitating and embellishing the city. This project was part of a desire to modernise Bordeaux, then in full economic expansion thanks to maritime and colonial trade.

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 classic ordinance, were to have a ground floor with arcades, a noble floor, an attic and an attic. The original plan, revised in 1762 by an unnamed architect in the sources, was simplified: removal of the forebody and balustrades, replacement by a sober entanglement and an attic. The square was only completed between 1770 and 1780, although its style remained representative of the first half of the 18th century.

The façade ordinance, made of cut stone, follows a rigorous model: bossed arcades on the ground floor, window doors decorated with mascarons and wrought iron balconies on the first floor, sometimes with a second floor. Two important arteries open at the corners of the rectangular square, highlighting its central role in the Bordeaux old network. The façade and roof of the house at 9 Gambetta Square were inscribed in the Historic Monuments by decree of 15 November 1927, recognizing their heritage value.

This urban project reflects the influence of the Lights on urban planning, where architectural harmony and functionality were preferred. Gambetta Square, with its buildings with clean lines, illustrates the transition from a medieval city to an open and rational city, adapted to the needs of a growing trading bourgeoisie. The mascarons and ironwork, typical of the Bordeaux style, add a decorative touch while respecting the classic sobriety advocated by the architects of the period.

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