Maison 23 rue Xavier Arnozan
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison 23 rue Xavier Arnozan, 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
- 44.7994, -0.6471
- Mérimée Reference
- PA33000233
A modernist villa in Pessac, listed as a Historic Monument in 2020, a discreet but eloquent example of 20th-century residential architecture in the Gironde, a stone's throw from Le Corbusier's Quartiers Modernes Frugès.
History
In the heart of Pessac, a commune in the Bordeaux metropolitan area whose name remains inextricably linked with the architectural daring of the twentieth century, the house at 23 rue Xavier Arnozan is one of those discreet treasures that can be discovered at the turn of a city walk. Listed as a Historic Monument by decree on 24 July 2020, it bears witness to the creative vitality that permeated this Gironde town throughout the last century, in the wake of the pioneering experiments of Le Corbusier and his patron Henry Frugès. What makes this residence truly singular is its ability to embody a vision of modern living that transcends its simple residential function. Designed in line with the principles that gradually came to dominate twentieth-century French domestic architecture - rationalisation of space, dialogue between interior and garden, attention to detail - it represents a successful synthesis of aesthetic ambition and everyday comfort. Its recent recognition as a heritage building underlines the extent to which twentieth-century architecture is now fully integrated into the collective consciousness of national heritage. Rue Xavier Arnozan, which bears the name of the famous 19th-century Bordeaux doctor, forms a neat residential setting where this house interacts with its green surroundings. The attentive visitor will notice the formal characteristics of Pessac architecture of the last century: bold geometric volumes, special treatment of openings, and that subtle relationship between the building and the exterior space that defines the quality of successful domestic architecture. A visit to this house is also part of a wider architectural tour of Pessac, a city that is a laboratory par excellence for modern urban planning. Lovers of contemporary architecture will find plenty of food for thought on the development of single-family housing in France, from the Corbuséan utopias of the 1920s to the more personal projects that have punctuated the town's residential history.
Architecture
The house at 23 rue Xavier Arnozan displays the formal characteristics of 20th-century modernist residential architecture in the Gironde, combining volumetric rigour with attention to detail. The composition of the facade reflects a sophisticated consideration of the relationship between full and empty space, with the treatment of the openings - banded windows or carefully proportioned openings - revealing the influence of the rationalist currents that dominated French architecture between the wars and in the post-war period. The materials used, probably rendering on traditional masonry combined with elaborate joinery, offer a sober but elegant palette typical of quality middle-class buildings of this period. The interior layout probably follows the functionalist pattern inherited from modern housing: a clear separation between reception areas and private areas, optimised circulation, and a well thought-out relationship between the living rooms and the garden. The roof, a structuring element of the silhouette, undoubtedly adopts a form that is in keeping with local codes, while at the same time embracing a measured modernity - a terrace or low-pitched roof not uncommon in this type of Pessac architecture. What gives this residence its recognised heritage value lies in the integrity of its architectural composition: all of its constituent elements - facades, joinery, any interior decoration and landscaping - form a coherent whole that faithfully documents the state of the art of building in Pessac during the 20th century, offering architectural historians an authentic and invaluable testimony.
Related Figures
Xavier Arnozan — médecin et professeur bordelais du XIXe siècle dont le nom est donné à la rueHenry Frugès — industriel mécène qui transforma Pessac en laboratoire architectural en commandant les Quartiers Modernes à Le CorbusierLe Corbusier — architecte dont l'influence sur Pessac a façonné la culture architecturale locale du XXe sièclePierre Jeanneret — associé de Le Corbusier, coauteur des Quartiers Modernes Frugès de Pessac
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison 23 rue Xavier Arnozan located?
Maison 23 rue Xavier Arnozan is located in Pessac, Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Maison 23 rue Xavier Arnozan built?
Maison 23 rue Xavier Arnozan dates back to a period built in the modern era (19th-20th century).
Is Maison 23 rue Xavier Arnozan open to visitors?
Maison 23 rue Xavier Arnozan is currently closed to visitors.
