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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house is part of the architectural complex of Gambetta Square (former Dauphine Square), one of Bordeaux's major urban projects in the 18th century. Initiated around 1745 by the Intendant of Tourny as part of a plan of sanitation and beautification, this square was designed to structure the main roads of the city. The Jurats of Bordeaux made a loan in 1750 to finance the construction of the uniform facades, composed of a ground floor with arcades, a noble floor, an attic and an attic. The buildings, aligned according to a classic ordinance, reflect the influence of the architectural models of the time, although their completion took place only between 1770 and 1780.

In 1762, a new architect proposed a simplified plan for the facades, removing the forebody and balustrades originally planned, and opting for a sober entanglement surmounted by an attic. This change illustrates the evolution of tastes towards more simplicity, while maintaining the characteristic style of the first half of the eighteenth century. The square, rectangular in shape, became a strategic crossroads, with two major arteries opening at its angles. The facades of cut stone, adorned with carved mascarons and wrought iron balconies on the first floor, bear witness to the craftsmanship of the period. Some houses even have a second floor, adding to diversity while preserving overall harmony.

Classified as a Historic Monument in 1927 for its facade and roof, this house embodies the Bordeaux urban heritage of the Enlightenment. Its inscription is part of the recognition of Gambetta Square as a masterpiece of urbanism, where the uniformity of facades hides a complex history, marked by aesthetic adjustments and financial constraints. Today, it remains a tangible testimony to the architectural and hygienist ambitions of the intendant of Tourny, as well as to the adaptation of projects to the technical and budgetary realities of the time.

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