CHe is the first to have the title of City Architect. And it is only thanks to this function that Félix Garde has passed into posterity. Apart from the fact that he was born in 1779 (where?), died in 1853 and undoubtedly buried in Rochefort, we do not know much about him. We don’t know how he got here. However, he left his mark on the city of which he remained the architect for more than 40 years until his death, crossing regimes and municipalities up to that of Eugène Roy-Bry. On this great longevity, with the confidence of all, he designed several striking buildings, still visible today. His name is not engraved in stone there because at the time, that was not yet done.
The first signatures found in his name date from the First Empire, around 1810. Initially, Félix Garde, who was not a civil servant, but a temporary worker, served as a travel agent alongside a certain de Boisé. “The two men will work together; we find both of their signatures on the documents,” explains Frédéric Chasseboeuf, guide-lecturer at the Rochefort heritage service. Until 1840-1850, in the department, these agents, trained at the École des Ponts, played the role of architects whose training did not exist until around 1850. So they take care of the streets and monuments.
Solid training
“Garde has a very solid neoclassical background, but we don’t know what,” explains Frédéric Chasseboeuf. In addition to good knowledge, the man regularly goes to Paris where he has his network. Perhaps he had been trained in the capital and no doubt he was a Freemason. Unfortunately, we have no private archives from his office. We can therefore only award him public orders.
Garde is credible, Paris treats him very well and validates his plans.
As soon as the temple was built in 1822, his talent appeared. The building is built in a neighborhood that has not yet been built. It is the first building to emerge from the ground, without joint ownership. “The facade is sober and well proportioned. If its triangular pediment is lower than the roof, which is not very pretty, it is because Garde used the golden ratio. To hide the ridge, the City will make an extension to build a wall behind the pediment. This anecdote shows the good neoclassical culture of Garde, very focused on theory. He’s a serious person. »
Félix Garde designed the oldest part of the current Pierre-Loti college overlooking rue Audry-de-Puyravault, organized into four buildings around a courtyard.
Frédéric Chasseboeuf
In 1829-1830, the architect was put in charge of the new college (current Pierre-Loti college) in place of the razed Capuchin convent. Garde designed the four buildings surrounding an arcaded courtyard (current main courtyard), enriched with a very rhythmic and very sober facade. “The project must be examined by the national public works commission, which is sometimes condescending to the provincials. But Garde is credible, Paris treats him very well and validates his plans. » This shows that when he releases a project, it’s strong.
Kharinne Charov
The Saint-Louis church existed, but Félix Garde remodeled it in 1835. He renovated it, notably with a neoclassical facade, to better light the nave.
In 1835, it was time to remodel the Saint-Louis church. While retaining the bell tower and the nave, Félix Garde will renovate the building to light it. He lowered the old facade for a neoclassical facade, replaced the slate roof with a tiled roof to bring light into the nave through vaults. “There was debate about the facade because it is the twin sister of that of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette in Paris, erected in 1826-1827. Did Garde copy? Through his interpersonal skills, he was able to see the plan of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette to draw inspiration from it; or the commission may have imposed a model on him. On the other hand, we know that after the refusal of his preliminary draft by the commission, he was able to discuss reworking it, proof of his influence. »
Commerce Palace
Finally, the other large building that we owe to him are the halls of 1846-1847. Project that he won in a national architectural competition, launched for the first time by the City. “Félix Garde is undoubtedly also selected because he is from here and at the end of his career. » For the end of his reign, he pulled out all the stops to create a palace of commerce with market halls, the stock exchange and shopping malls.
Kharinne Charov
The halls are a monumental building designed by the architect Félix Garde in 1846-1847 with a very architectural facade facing the market (left).
“This building shows that Rochefort is diversifying its economy, it is no longer satisfied with the arsenal and is turning towards civilian activities. The building is exceptional with a very architectural facade facing the market (current avenue de Gaulle) and a slate roof. In the center, neoclassical stone columns supported a wooden structure. » After several alterations and the fire in the 1970s, today only the stone exterior and the load-bearing walls remain. “This monumental and original building is one of the least recognized in Rochefort. » Even if everyone walks past.
Thanks to Frédéric Chasseboeuf.
