Athens 2023 | Plasterboard

La Rochelle Town Hall

FranceCompany Name: Douzille

Town Hall - Gypsum International Trophy 2023

Project description

Identical, but new!

On 28 June 2013, a fire partially destroyed the town hall of La Rochelle, which is considered the “oldest town hall in France”. The building has housed La Rochelle’s town hall since 1298 and has been a listed building since 1861.

The challenge of the reconstruction was twofold: to rehabilitate the building and to take advantage of the disaster to rationalise the adjacent buildings in order to offer a more accessible and functional building while preserving its specific heritage features.

Main information

Building size

1 900 m²

Building purpose / type

Office
administration

Building owner name

City of la Rochelle

Architect name

Philippe
VILLENEUVE
Chief architect of
historic national
monuments

Contractor

Company name: Douzille

Main Representative: Mr Vincent GIRAUD

Number of collaborators: 20

Specialties: Plaster, plasterboard, celing installation, insulation

Founded in: 1952

Biography: Founded more than 100 years ago by Mr Douzille, the company is an expert in plastering work. Now run by two former employees, the company puts its experience at the service of its customers to offer the best plastering work around the town of La Rochelle.

Innovation Partner: HISTORIC MONUMENTS

Contractors: Mr Vincent GIRAUD

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Key Challenges

Technical challenges before and during installation/application :

During the works, the glass roof allowed the supply of materials to the entire site
The systems installed are technical systems, especially for high walls and fire ceilings

Key Achievements

Restoration of a listed building
Project in collaboration with the architect of the monuments of France Philippe Villeneuve
Collaboration with more than 20 different trades
Solutions installed in accordance with the requirements of this type of building, particularly with regard to fire protection

Building Owner’s testimonial

Jean-François FOUTAINE, Mayor of La Rochelle

I appreciated your skill and compassion,” he told the workers, “you will be able to tell your families : we have rebuilt the town hall of La Rochelle.

Architect’s testimonial

Philippe VILLENEUVE, chief architect of historic national monuments

The fire was, it’s a bit horrible to say it, a real opportunity for this monument, because now it’s rational, it’s fluid, it’s clear and it’s valued so it was a bad for a very good I hope.