The 'tobacco barn (?)' rebuild - 3 - January 2016

Someone said that the new building replaces a former burnt-out timber tobacco barn that stood on the site. So, for once, Bâtiments de France has accepted a post-17th-century non-masonry replacement, although I understand that the new owner was obliged to keep the same geometric form as the old utility building. Timber tobacco barn translates to a 21st century 'green structure', unique within the walls.
We hope the river Mable doesn't overflow its banks too soon, as in 2014.

The project advances. Click HERE for other posts of the works to this site.

looking north-east up the rue des Gaultiers

street façade

interior framework - softwood and plywood panels  and oak free structure

looking across the road from inside - a display of the new ochre colours

a junction of materials

the cheminée of the former neighbour to the North

Two phoenix-es (phoeni…phoenae?) arise

On rue des Gaultiers, on the western edge of the ville idéale, up against the little river Mable where it forms at the eastern part of the moat, two almost new houses are being re-built.

The first replaces old utility buildings that have collapsed, but interestingly, Bâtiments de France have permitted timber-frame structures to replace the original ones constructed of tuffeau rubble masonry.  They have insisted, we understand, that the form of the prior buildings be replicated and that a still standing party wall be re-assimilated into the structure.

The ground slab and the softwood timber wall frames have been built so far, but the project includes a few internal oak structural members that will no doubt still be visible in the interior when all the surfaces are completed.

The house has an attractive back garden overlooking the Moat/Mable river. Hopefully the little river will not overflow its banks, as happened in 2013 (and 1956) and flood the new house.

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Progress on the reconstruction of the old industrial works at the western foot of place Louis XIII (formerly the veal and stock market-place), continues apace.  The frontal wall and roof has been restored and re-windowed, while the rear elevation to the moat/Mable has been reconstructed.  The old iron and steel structures within are now rationalised to suit the new 'adaptive re-use', retaining some of the 19th century 'industrial archaeology'.  

It will be quite spectacular and will really lift the perception of the square, replacing the former gloomy dereliction.  Apparently the ground floor hall will be used as a gallery for art projects.

The small remnant of the 17th century that flanks the fausse porte to the immediate south, has been correctly restored to its original state; even the rendering has been hand done, in contrast the the mechanical finish on the adjacent re-born 19th century structure.

Hard to see, but the back garden is being fully restored - more Venice than Richelieu.  Perhaps a gondola…?

19th century reborn

17th century restoration 

place Louis XIII

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New projects on the rue des Gaultiers

The street that is next to the Mable river on the eastern perimeter of the town seems to have an absolute rash of new projects that indicate a new confidence in restoration and renewal.

The rue des Gaultiers - the street of 17th century mercenaries.

A completely new house is being built; the former limonade factory has been completely rebuilt and a large former industrial building is being transformed on the place Louis XIII, next to the 'Faux Porte', the dummy town gate, in front of the Mable river as it passes the town forming the eastern section of the town's moat.

The former factory front façade nears completion

The lofty shell of the refurbished industrial premises on place Louis XIII

A new rear wall and a new roof which will contain the new premises
including, we hear, a gallery at ground level.

A little chunk of the 17th century is restored along with the 19th!

 Rather grandiose new  oaken doors to a modest property on rue des Gaultiers.

The new wall hiding the re-constructed limonade factory

The ground slab is prepared after the foundations have been cut and filled

The ground floor slab is cast for the re-construction of a pair of old houses on rue des Gaultiers.
The replacement, like-for-like, under the careful control of Bâtiments de France and La Bartélémy!

Old painted garage doors bask in the evening light.
Ochres are hardly new in this town!

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