Ancien Entrepôt, dit Entrepôt Lainé
MonumentHidden Treasure
Ancien Entrepôt, dit Entrepôt Lainé, located in Bordeaux (Gironde), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Bordeaux, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8486, -0.5722
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00083179
Colossal neoclassical warehouse from the 19th century, the Entrepôt Lainé embodies the commercial power of Bordeaux with its majestic arcades, its groin vaults and its remarkable interior structure with diaphragm arches.
History
In the heart of Bordeaux, between the quays of the Garonne and the wide streets of the Chartrons district, stands the Entrepôt Lainé, a discreet but fascinating monument to the industrial and commercial architecture of the 19th century. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1973, this massive trapezoidal building bears witness to the mercantile ambitions of a city that was, for centuries, one of Europe's leading ports. Far from the palaces and châteaux that we spontaneously associate with French heritage, the Entrepôt Lainé represents a different kind of nobility: that of commerce, constructive ingenuity and civil engineering. What makes the building truly unique is the architectural consistency of its exterior façades, all of which are treated in almost identical fashion, with the notable exception of the eastern façade, a veritable monumental frontispiece. Three large semi-circular arches open onto a cross-vaulted porch, supported by double arches resting on pilasters set in thick ashlar pillars. This careful treatment of the main entrance contrasts with the austere sobriety of the other elevations, punctuated by simple brick round arched bays and crowned by a strong cornice. The interior holds a major surprise: a vast central shop structured by large diaphragm arches, forming an industrial nave of rare elegance. Around this central space, superimposed floors, cross-vaulted compartments and a second level supported by moulded beams make up a highly complex spatial system. The ring-vaulted Saint-Gilles spiral staircase serving the offices from the Cours Xavier Arnozan is one of the most refined details of the complex. Now converted into a cultural space hosting the CAPC - Musée d'art contemporain de Bordeaux - the Entrepôt Lainé is enjoying an astonishing second life. The dizzying height of the central nave, its raw volumes and subdued lighting make it an ideal setting for the boldest works of contemporary art. A visit here means experiencing the fascinating dialogue between industrial heritage and contemporary creation, in a city that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Architecture
The Entrepôt Lainé has an irregular trapezoidal floor plan, a topographical feature dictated by the urban fabric of Chartrons. Its exterior façades are remarkably sober: the side and rear elevations, built mainly of brick, are punctuated on each floor by round-arched bays arranged along the same vertical axis, giving the whole a regular, austere rhythm, underlined by a strong cornice crowning the whole. This modular repetition anticipates the logic of modern industrial architecture. The east facade is the noble exception to the scheme: built entirely of ashlar limestone, it opens with three large semi-circular arches that lead into a vast cross-vaulted porch. Each bay of this porch is punctuated by double arches resting on engaged pilasters, giving the entrance a spatial depth and monumental gravity worthy of public architecture. The openings in this façade are rectangular, in stark contrast to the arched openings in the other elevations. The interior space is the real achievement of the building. A vast, unvaulted central shop is covered by a framework resting on large diaphragm arches, creating an industrial nave several dozen metres long. This central space is divided down the middle by a series of semi-circular arches. On the periphery, from the start of the large arches, wooden beam floors reinforced with moulding support the upper levels, which are also structured by arches. The peripheral compartments are cross-vaulted. A Saint-Gilles spiral staircase, with its characteristic ring vault, discreetly serves the office spaces from the Cours Xavier Arnozan - a masterpiece of stereotomy concealed within the thickness of the walls.
Related Figures
Jean-Frédéric Lainé — ministre de l'Intérieur sous la Restauration, personnage politique bordelais dont l'entrepôt porte le nomJean-Louis Schefer — directeur du CAPC à ses débuts, artisan de la reconversion culturelle de l'entrepôtJacques Chaban-Delmas — maire de Bordeaux pendant plusieurs décennies, partisan du renouveau culturel de la villeClaude Lahumière — personnalité du milieu de l'art contemporain ayant contribué au rayonnement du CAPC dans les années 1980Louis Garros — ingénieur des Ponts et Chaussées ayant participé aux grands travaux d'infrastructure bordelaise au XIXe siècle
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ancien Entrepôt, dit Entrepôt Lainé located?
Ancien Entrepôt, dit Entrepôt Lainé is located in Bordeaux, Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Ancien Entrepôt, dit Entrepôt Lainé built?
Ancien Entrepôt, dit Entrepôt Lainé dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Ancien Entrepôt, dit Entrepôt Lainé open to visitors?
Ancien Entrepôt, dit Entrepôt Lainé is currently closed to visitors.