Factory Foundation 1873 (≈ 1873)
Created by Laurence Oustau and associates.
1873, 1881
Installation of Hoffmann kilns
Installation of Hoffmann kilns 1873, 1881 (≈ 1881)
Two ovens built at 8 years apart.
1945
Refocusing production
Refocusing production 1945 (≈ 1945)
Only bricks and tiles made.
1970
Final closure
Final closure 1970 (≈ 1970)
End of industrial activity.
1994
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 1994 (≈ 1994)
Protection of white and red plants.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Set number 1 : decoration façade of the building called the white factory (Box AL 372) ; Set number 2: all the buildings called red factory, outbuilding buildings, evacuation chimneys, ovens, entrance curate, explosive rooms, service esplanade, fence walls (Box AL 373): inscription by order of 1 September 1994, as amended by order of 27 December 1994
Key figures
Laurence Oustau - Founding industrial
Created in 1873 with partners.
L. Danos - Founding partner
Co-creator of tile-brickery.
A. Latapie - Founding partner
Participated in the foundation in 1873.
Origin and history
The Oustau white and red factory was founded in 1873 by industrialist Laurence Oustau, associated with L. Danos and A. Latapi, as a modern tile-brickery. The site is distinguished by the installation of two Hoffmann (1873 and 1881) ovens, still in place, and an architecture richly decorated with polychrome varnished bricks in the "Red factory". These technical innovations mark a break with traditional craft methods, positioning the factory as a major player in the local industrial revolution.
The production extended to tiles, bricks, stoneware pipes, and paved stoneware, with a diversification into stoneware and pottery. After 1945, the activity focused on bricks and tiles until closure in 1970. Today disused, the site preserves eight cooking ovens, outbuildings ( stables, employers' house transformed into a cultural centre), and an exceptional architectural decor, bearing witness to its flourishing industrial past.
Ranked as a Historic Monument in 1994, the ensemble comprises two protected parts: the decorated facade of the "white factory" and the entire "red factory" with its ovens, fireplaces, and fence walls. This technical and aesthetic heritage, in the process of conversion, illustrates the golden age of the ceramic industry in the Hautes-Pyrénées, combining innovation and decorative art.
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