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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Liensol House is an iconic building located on Rue de la République in Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe. Built at the end of the 18th century by merchant Dominique Olivier, it is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Originally conceived as a dwelling with a commercial premises on the ground floor (now a bakery), it illustrates colonial urbanism of the time. Its architecture combines two housing bodies connected by wings surrounding an inner courtyard, with typical 18th-century elements such as a scratched frame and stone facades.

The house has undergone several modifications over the centuries: a wooden gallery added in the 19th century, replaced in 1950 by a concrete structure, and a back terrace built the same year. Ranked a historic monument in 2002, it benefited from renovations, notably in 2013 and 2020 thanks to the Heritage Lotto, to host the future Centre d'interprétation de l'architecture et du patrimoine (CIAP) in Basse-Terre. This work aims to preserve its role as a witness to the island's urban and commercial history.

Originally, the house also housed a bakery with an oven, and 15 slaves were attached to it in 1844, reflecting the socio-economic context of Guadeloupe in colonial times. The remains of this bakery, as well as the original interior distribution, remain partially visible. Dominique Olivier's property, which owned several lots in the neighborhood, shows the importance of traders in the development of Basse-Terre. Today, despite a fire that damaged part of the building, the Linksol house remains a symbol of the Guadeloupe architectural heritage.

Architecturally, the house is distinguished by its rounded stone facades, segmental arched bays, and a multured cornice, although later additions (such as tiles of faience) altered its original appearance. The roofs, initially covered with tiles and dentures, were replaced by plate. Together, with its courtyard and wooden stairs, offers a rare example of the Creole bourgeois habitat of the eighteenth century, mixing residential, commercial and artisanal functions.

Liensol House is now owned by the town of Basse-Terre. Its inclusion in historical monuments in 2002 and recent rehabilitation projects underline its heritage importance. The future CIAP will find a suitable framework to enhance the architectural and urban history of Guadeloupe, while preserving the memory of past activities, such as bakery and commerce, that have marked this place since its construction.

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