Maison Siclis, ancien castel Martchiot
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison Siclis, ancien castel Martchiot, located in Saint-Symphorien (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
- Saint-Symphorien, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.4310, -0.4828
- Mérimée Reference
- PA33000097
A masterpiece of modernist architecture from the 1930s, Maison Siclis combines bold reinforced concrete, geometric volumes and landscaped grounds in the Gironde countryside.
History
Tucked away in the greenery of the southern Gironde, Maison Siclis - formerly known as Castel Martchiot - is one of the most singular works of French residential architecture between the wars. Built between 1934 and 1938, it embodies the full maturity of a modernist movement that, far from the capitals, ventured into the countryside to propose a resolutely new art of living. What is immediately striking is the absolute coherence of the project: Charles Siclis, a Parisian architect renowned for his theatres and sophisticated interiors, did not simply design a building. He conceived a total universe - from the entrance gate and concierge service to the smallest item of furniture, including the layout of the rooms, the design of the windows and the organisation of the grounds. Each element interacts with the others in a rare harmony, making this residence a veritable living manifesto. The Siclis experience is immediately apparent on approach: a sober colonnade frames the conciergerie, announcing the geometric rigour that governs the whole. The visitor then discovers a rectangular volume enlivened by clever offsets, flanked by a tower to the south-east that, in a resolutely contemporary interpretation, recalls the fortified residences of the region. Large metal-framed windows flood the interiors with light, while the steeply pitched gable roof adds an unexpected touch to this modernist composition. Inside, Siclis has deployed his talent as a decorator with the same exacting standards: wood panelling, upholstery, lighting and bespoke furniture create atmospheres where functionalist elegance flirts with bourgeois comfort. The grounds, designed in direct relation to the interior layout, extend the axes and views of the house towards the Gironde landscape, delightfully blurring the boundary between architecture and nature.
Architecture
The Siclis house is based on a rectangular plan, the monotony of which is skilfully countered by a series of volumetric offsets that enliven each façade. Two appendages structure the whole in a functional and aesthetic way: to the south-east, a tower gives the composition a verticality reminiscent of the Gascon bastides and fortified houses reinterpreted in a resolutely contemporary language; to the south-west, a patio hollows out the volume and creates a transitional space between the interior and the park, encouraging natural light and ventilation in accordance with the hygienic principles in vogue in the architecture of the period. Reinforced concrete is the main structural material, unashamedly in keeping with the rationalist tradition of the 1930s. The façades are pierced with large metal-framed windows that flood the rooms with light while affirming the building's modernity in the face of regional stone or brick constructions. The steeply pitched four-slope roof introduces a surprising note into this modernist composition: far from the flat terraces advocated by the international movement, this roof is a compromise between the local vocabulary and the climatic requirements of southern Gironde, a region with rainy winters. Inside, Charles Siclis has orchestrated a total décor: wood panelling, floor and wall coverings, light fittings and furniture designed specifically for the residence form a coherent whole that is a total work of art. The conciergerie, with its two-sided colonnade visible from the main house, illustrates the attention paid to staging the entire estate, from the visitor's first view to the most intimate spaces.
Related Figures
Charles Siclis (1889-1947) — architecte concepteur de la maison, figure du modernisme français de l'entre-deux-guerresFamille Martchiot — commanditaires et premiers propriétaires du domaine, à l'origine du nom « castel Martchiot »Auguste Perret — maître du béton armé en France, dont l'influence technique sur la génération de Siclis est déterminanteRob Mallet-Stevens — contemporain de Siclis, représentant du même courant moderniste des villas de l'entre-deux-guerres
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison Siclis, ancien castel Martchiot located?
Maison Siclis, ancien castel Martchiot is located in Saint-Symphorien, Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Maison Siclis, ancien castel Martchiot built?
Maison Siclis, ancien castel Martchiot dates back to a period built in the modern era (19th-20th century).
Is Maison Siclis, ancien castel Martchiot open to visitors?
Maison Siclis, ancien castel Martchiot is currently closed to visitors.
