Bâtiment de la Subdivision des Phares et Balises

English translation

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History

The subdivision of the Lighthouses and Beacons Service is to be placed within the history of the reconstruction of the city and port which occurred following the destruction in the Second World War. A restoration plan was proposed and approved in 1947, centred on more modernist conceptions of urbanism even if more traditional references, such as red brick, were integrated into the new projects. The building of the Subdivision of Lighthouses and Beacons was, however, somewhat spared from this wave of innovative concepts. The siting of the new edifice was planned along the quai des Anglais and was to house offices, a keeper's dwelling as well as another reserved for visiting engineers. The architect Edmond Bocage initiated the project in 1946. It unfolds symmetrically, according to a U-shaped plan, with a central tower on the front façade in strong projection as well as a courtyard at the rear. The two square storeys of the main wing are surmounted by a roof with four slopes. The return wings consist of one square storey likewise and a roof with two slopes with triangular gables. The beacon storage area is occupied by equipment recovered from the sea. The architect opted for a mixture of techniques and forms both modern and more traditional. Thus, classic red bricks and ashlar stone are used, concealing reinforced concrete. Finally, it should be noted the presence of the symbols of Lighthouses and Beacons.