And yes, the pink city as you now know was buit of terracotta bricks by the romans more than 2 000 years ago.
But from the year 1850, a new architectural trend appeared in our city : The Hausmann style.
Origin : The Haussmanian style between 1850 and 1870 :
It was following the arrival of the railway in Toulouse in 1857 that the Hausmanian style made its appearance in our beautiful pink city. Indeed at that time, Parisian departement stores, banks, and insurance stores wanted to set up in Toulouse.
To accommodate them, local architects took inspiration from the great Hausmanian boulevards of Paris.
As a result, Toulouse is a city that is redesigning itsefl by ventilating itself and widening the traffic routes.
Only one obligation, all buildings must respect the same height.
The Toulouse architects were tempted by Toulouse bricks, changed their mind and used yellow and cream bricks to get closer to Parisian white stone.
But this yellow bricks was already present in Toulouse anyways, used by the two local architects " Virebent and Urbain Vitry ".
Characteristics of Hausmann buildinds :
The cut store and the central element become obligatory.
In the city, the major axes where we encounter this very conventional Hausmann-style architecture are : Rue Alsace Loraine, Rue de Metz, Rue du Languedoc and Allées François Verdier.
The buildings are four to five floors maximum.
The second floor was considered noble and is distinguished by larger windows.
Presence of a continuous balcony on the second floor.
Possibility of putting other confidant balls on other floors.
Spacing between windows.
Arule asserted , always the Hausmannian buildings constructed have a plaque dated and signed by the architect.
Magnificent Hausmannian building in 31, rue de Metz street 31 000 Toulouse.
It was built by the architect " Barthélémy Guitard " between 1900 and 1901.
It is in the electric style and Art Nouveau.
In 1874, the prefecture established its services.
The Facade is imposing, it has 15 bays and seven levels.
It underwent a superb renovation in 2011.
The elevation is crowned with a link cornice, topped with a slate roof and pierced with stone darmerwindows.
The balconies are all railings and cast iron.
The electric style or Hausmannian post ( 1870/1895 ) :
From 1884, the Hausmannian construction rules were relaxed and gave more room for creativity.
The facades became busier, they were described as " pompous, opulent and extravagant ".
Characteristics of Hausmannian buildings of this period:
Return of facades inspired by Greco-Roman, Gothic of Rennaissance style.
Reappearance of the oriel or " Bow window " authorized between the second floor and the cornice.
The details of this building are these pilasters, columns nestled, because in Terracota modeled on those twins of the Louvre museum by " Jean Goujon ".
Hausmannian building " Primark " in Toulouse: 41, Charles de Rémuzat street 31 000 Toulouse.
It was built from 1903 to 1904 by the " Company aux Dames de France " in the " Art Nouveau " style.
It is characterized by an exposed metal structure and light brick filling.
The elevation punctuated by the bays of the doors, highlighted on the ground floor and in the basement by the brick bossing and crowned by large medallions sculpted from stone, surrouded by garlands of flowers.
Inside, the architect uses the possibilities provided by letal architecture to free up central space.
This space is covered by a magnificent glass dome.
Building of 28, rue des Marchands 31 000 Toulouse:
It is called ' Hôtel des cariatides " built by " Augustin Virebent " at the end of the 1830s.
It is magnificent for the quality of its terracotta decorations.
The large arcades on the ground floor are divised into two tore level, above which two types rise : a noble and an attic.
The architecture here is electric and fanciful and imprints the codes of Rennaissance and 17th century architecture.
Columns, pilaster and cornice, the first floor is decorated with 12 cariatides inspired from that of " Jean Goujon " .
All this was possible thanks to the family brickyard " Virebent " in Toulouse.
End of Hausmannian between 1895 and 1914:
From 1902, town planning rules were relaxed, allowing even more freedom for construction.
The ornamental balconies are gaining depth, going from 1,20 meters compared to 40 centimeters previously.
The corners of the building are rounded and topped with a dome.
The griel windows appear on the floors above the cornices.
Appearance of loggia between two griel windiws.
The attic gains even more height allowing more creativity at roof level.
Building " Soulery store " 28, rue Lapeyrouse 31 000 Toulouse:
The building was built in the first half of the 19th. century.
It is characterized by rich terracotta decoration.
The Facade of the levels, with three bays.
On the ground floor the central door separates two rectangular shops.
It is framed by two fluted columns and christian capital and frieze and palm.
the first floor is highlighted by a long balcony and its ironwork railing.
The windows are framed and decorated with terracotta element.
A wide cornice with modillons and doves frieze separates the second from the top floor, opened by three restangular windows.
In conclusion we can say that the Hausmannian style will be replaced by the architectural style called " Art Nouveau ".
Bonus photos : Another example of a Hausmann building in Toulouse :
Details of Haussmannian buildings in Toulouse :
That's all for today my friends.
I hope you enjoy reading this post.
In our city it's a bit of an architectural shock; because you know now that all the buidings in Toulouse are built from terracotta bricks.
I wish you a pleasant and beautiful day.
Welcome in Toulouse.
The blog from Toulouse.
Greetings Franck.
Excellent article. I was in Castres recently and saw this Haussmann style building.