Maison 1 rue des Arcades
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison 1 rue des Arcades, located in Pessac (Gironde), is a modern edifice built in the 19th-20th centuries. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Modern (19th-20th century)
- Location
- Pessac, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.7980, -0.6490
- Mérimée Reference
- PA33000242
Modernist gem of Pessac, this twentieth-century house embodies the architectural avant-garde of the Bordeaux region, with its emblematic arcades that bear witness to a bold dialogue between tradition and modernity.
History
In the heart of Pessac, a town intimately linked with the history of French modern architecture, the house at 1 rue des Arcades stands out as a rare and precious testimony to the constructive creativity of the 20th century. Listed as a Monument Historique in 2022, this belated but well-deserved recognition attests to the growing heritage value accorded to the domestic architecture of the last century, long neglected in favour of grand medieval or classical residences. What makes this residence unique is above all the element that gives it its name: its arcades. An architectural motif steeped in history, the arcade here evokes a dual reference, both Mediterranean and modernist. In the building tradition of the South-West, arcades have structured public and domestic spaces since the Middle Ages - from the Gascon bastides to the squares of Bordeaux - but their reinterpretation in the 20th century reveals an ambition for dialogue between the eras, typical of the experimental architecture of the inter-war and post-war periods. Pessac is no insignificant setting for this type of work. The town is world-famous for being home to the Quartiers Modernes Frugès, working-class housing estates designed by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret between 1924 and 1926 at the request of industrialist Henry Frugès. This context of architectural effervescence had a lasting impact on the urban fabric of Pessac, creating fertile ground for bold residential experimentation. The house on rue des Arcades is a natural extension of this local genealogy of innovation. The experience of visiting this monument is that of an intimate discovery: unlike castles or abbeys, this house invites you to perceive architecture from a human perspective, to understand how an everyday building can rise to the level of a work of art. The attentive stroller will be able to spot the play of volumes, the careful proportions and the treatment of the facades, all of which reveal the hand of a designer concerned with beauty as much as function. The surrounding area, with its mix of twentieth-century suburban development and traces of older urbanisation, provides a fascinating backdrop to the work. A visit to this house also means travelling through a century of French architectural history in the space of a few streets, from the modernist utopias of Corbusian to the more confidential but equally precious creations such as this one.
Architecture
The architecture of the house at 1 rue des Arcades is based on an immediately identifiable principle: the use of arcades on the façade, a motif that gives the building its distinctive character and anchors it in a long tradition of southern construction. These arcades - semi-circular or basket-handle openings in the style of the early 20th century - give rhythm to the façade and create a characteristic play of light and shade, particularly noticeable in the sunshine. The building is constructed using materials and techniques that were common in the Bordeaux region in the 20th century: rendering on brick or breeze-block masonry, and a roof of canal tiles or slate, depending on the predominant regional influence. The plan of the house probably follows a rational layout, typical of middle-class houses of the first part of the 20th century, with a clear division between reception areas and private spaces, arranged over two levels. The overall proportions of the building reflect the care taken to balance the volumes, with a strong base, the main body and a neat crown. In terms of architectural detailing, the house probably features decorative elements typical of the styles in vogue between the two world wars: moulded cornices, elaborate window surrounds and prominent window sills. Taken as a whole, the façade is legible and well-balanced, going beyond mere functionality to assert a real aesthetic ambition. It is precisely this quality of design - rare in ordinary domestic architecture - that has justified the building's protection as a Historic Monument.
Related Figures
Le Corbusier — architecte suisse-français dont l'œuvre pessakaise (Quartiers Frugès, 1924-1926) a durablement marqué l'architecture domestique de la communePierre Jeanneret — co-concepteur des Quartiers Modernes Frugès, figure tutélaire de l'architecture moderne à PessacHenry Frugès — industriel bordelais commanditaire des cités ouvrières de Pessac, artisan du rayonnement architectural de la commune au XXe siècleLes propriétaires successifs — acteurs anonymes mais essentiels de la préservation de la maison jusqu'à son inscription en 2022Les architectes des Bâtiments de France de Gironde — responsables de l'instruction du dossier d'inscription et gardiens du patrimoine départemental
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison 1 rue des Arcades located?
Maison 1 rue des Arcades is located in Pessac, Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Maison 1 rue des Arcades built?
Maison 1 rue des Arcades dates back to a period built in the modern era (19th-20th century).
Is Maison 1 rue des Arcades open to visitors?
Maison 1 rue des Arcades is currently closed to visitors.