Levesque House

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Levesque house, located at 20 rue Archambaud in Saint-Pierre on the island of La Réunion, is an emblematic building of the early 19th century, attributed to the Falaise family. Its architecture combines a main house body, topped by a four-paned roof, and a south façade enlarged between 1820 and 1830, inspired by the Creole houses of the period. The open veranda on the ground floor and the gallery on the upper floor, as well as the wrought iron balcony, testify to the influence of local techniques and European architectural models.

The garden of Levesque House, located to the east of the plot, presents remarkable decorative elements, such as a circular basin decorated with cast iron frogs, reminiscent of Versailles decorations, and a 19th century iron sculpture representing a Putto at the Dauphin, inspired by a work of the Italian Renaissance. These elements, as well as the neoclassical pillars of the Varangue, underline the refinement of this house, contrasting with the concrete additions made in the 20th century on the northern facade.

The house has known several influential owners, including the Motais family of Narbonne and the Vigoureux de K/morvant, who marked its history with architectural changes. Listed in the additional inventory of the Historic Monuments since 14 August 2000, it illustrates the evolution of the bourgeois houses of Reunion, between colonial heritage and modern adaptations. The restorations of the mid-20th century, such as the replacement of wooden grids with metal, also changed its original appearance.

The outbuildings of the house, including a wooden pavilion preceded by a varangue, were rebuilt between 2004 and 2005. This work was aimed at preserving the integrity of the site, while integrating contemporary elements. The interior distribution, organised around a central corridor, reflects a typical planning of Creole houses, adapted to the tropical climate of the island.

The wall of the house, surmounted by a wrought iron gate, underwent major restorations in the mid-20th century, resulting in the suppression of the original lime coatings. These transformations, although partially modifying the historical aspect, allowed to preserve the overall structure of the monument. Today, the Levesque house remains a major architectural testimony of Saint-Pierre, mixing local history and various cultural influences.

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