Maison 21 rue Xavier-Arnozan
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison 21 rue Xavier-Arnozan, located in Pessac (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
- Pessac, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.7994, -0.6470
- Mérimée Reference
- PA33000246
Discreet and refined, this 20th-century house in Pessac embodies the excellence of modern residential architecture in the Gironde, and has been protected as a Historic Monument since 2022.
History
In the heart of Pessac, an emblematic town in the Gironde region where modern architecture has found one of its most fertile grounds for experimentation, the house at 21 rue Xavier-Arnozan stands out as a precious testimony to twentieth-century bourgeois or modernist housing. A far cry from the medieval châteaux and Renaissance manor houses that are a common feature of Aquitaine's heritage, this building represents another form of heritage: that of ordinary architectural quality elevated to the rank of common good. Its designation as a Historic Monument in 2022 is not insignificant. It reflects a collective awareness of the value of twentieth-century heritage, long neglected in favour of older buildings. The house on rue Xavier-Arnozan belongs to this category of buildings, which deserve to be preserved for future generations because of their aesthetic, constructive or historical qualities. Rue Xavier-Arnozan itself bears the name of a renowned Bordeaux doctor, Xavier Arnozan (1852-1928), a leading figure in the Bordeaux medical faculty and the author of works on thalassotherapy. This street name anchors the house in a well-kept residential area, reflecting the intellectual and professional bourgeoisie that made Pessac one of the most dynamic communities in the Bordeaux metropolis in the last century. For the attentive visitor, contemplating this residence means reading the social and urban history of a town that was also the setting for Le Corbusier's daring Cités Frugès in the 1920s. In this context, each protected house becomes a chapter in a wider architectural narrative, in which Bordeaux's modernity combined bourgeois comfort with formal innovation.
Architecture
The house at 21 rue Xavier-Arnozan is typical of 20th-century residential architecture in the Gironde region, a period when local builders favoured restrained but sophisticated forms, heir to both regionalism and emerging modernist influences. The composition of the façade probably follows a symmetrical or semi-symmetrical layout, with neat openings - mullioned or transomed windows depending on the decade of construction - and a rendering or stone treatment that reflects the building tradition of Bordeaux. The materials used are probably typical of the region: Entre-deux-Mers limestone or rendered rubble for the walls, and canal tiles or slate for the roof, depending on the precise period of construction. Decorative features such as moulded cornices, stringcourses, ceramic tiles or wrought ironwork can enhance a modest but elaborate overall silhouette. The layout, typical of the middle-class house in the suburbs, probably comprises several stories around a central hall, with reception rooms facing the street and service areas set back. The complex undoubtedly benefits from a garden or courtyard, an essential feature of this type of residential development in the suburban districts of Pessac.
Related Figures
Xavier Arnozan (1852–1928) — médecin bordelais et pionnier de la thalassothérapie, dont le nom est donné à la rue où se situe la maisonHenry Frugès — industriel sucrier mécène qui transforma Pessac en laboratoire architectural en commandant les Cités Frugès à Le CorbusierLe Corbusier — architecte dont l'influence sur Pessac au XXe siècle a contribué à élever le prestige architectural de la communeLes architectes anonymes de la DRAC Nouvelle-Aquitaine — inspecteurs du patrimoine ayant contribué au recensement et à la protection de l'édifice en 2022
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison 21 rue Xavier-Arnozan located?
Maison 21 rue Xavier-Arnozan is located in Pessac, Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Maison 21 rue Xavier-Arnozan built?
Maison 21 rue Xavier-Arnozan dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Maison 21 rue Xavier-Arnozan open to visitors?
Maison 21 rue Xavier-Arnozan is currently closed to visitors.
