Rouen. Materials, colors … What are the rules for work in the historic center?
Through Margot Nicodemus
Published on
the heritage of Rouen (Seine-Maritime) is remarkable in various aspects, particularly in its historic center, located on the right bank. “The richness of our streets is based on the fact that buildings from all eras follow one another, side by side, from the 15th to the 19th century. »Jean-Christophe Blondel, architect and deputy director of regulatory town planning at the Metropolis, by highlighting the architectural specificity of the city, raises, at the same time, the complexity of “Touch” these ancestral dwellings.
Indeed, a special attention is paid to fittings that can be done in the city center at large, including on the left bank, and even greater attention to a well-defined area, the safeguarded sector. Clearly, we do not do anything with the real estate included in this zone (see the map), whose limits are roughly the streets of Fossé Louis VIII and Alsace-Lorraine (north-south axis), and the streets of Fontenelle and Armand-Carrel (west-east axis).
A compulsory building permit
Approved in 1986 by the State services, the safeguarded sector was determined according to a perimeter of 500 meters around the historic monuments registered or classified. For works, the rule is strict: each of them must be the subject of a building permit, “even to change a window”, specifies Jean-Christophe Blondel.
The opinion of the architect of the Buildings of France intervenes, to possibly “put prescriptions in the project”, indicates Paule Valla, deputy director general for town planning and housing for the City and the Metropolis. If “everything is precious, targeted per square meter”, she tempers however: “Of course, we are responsible for the overall balance of the city, but we are always looking to find solutions. “
What there is to knowUpdated Sep 27, 2021
The limits of the protected sector in Rouen are roughly: – from north to south: the streets of Fossé Louis VIII, then aux Juifs, to Alsace-Lorraine streets, then du Change; – from west to east: the streets of Fontenelle and Armand-Carrel, then Victor-Hugo.
This safeguarded sector, the first established in France, is part of a safeguard plan, approved in 1986. The Rouen safeguarded sector was established by the State, and more precisely the Ministry of Culture, after very extensive studies, building by apartment building.
The safeguarded sector does not cover all the former areas of Rouen. “In each district, up to the left bank, there may be a nugget, to which we pay the greatest attention”, explains Jean-Christophe Blondel.
Let’s get to the heart of the matter: what are the points, for the owners of the housing concerned, on which they must be (very) vigilant ? Everything that is visible on the facade, of course.
Color code, materials for windows, roofs….
The windows, for example, are a reflection of the building’s era, depending on the size of the tiles, the presence of oak sleepers, etc. This is particularly true for half-timbered (or half-timbered) buildings with which, unsurprisingly, PVC windows “contrast very poorly”. The same goes for white plastic roller shutters, and for hall doors. “If a wooden one is damaged, you have to redo the same. For carriage doors in solid oak, we explain to people that it is not possible to put a grille or a remote control there, ”emphasizes the architect.
We must explain the interest of preserving all this heritage, which makes Rouen a tourist and pleasant city. We work on the authentic, but we want to stay in touch with people. By discussing, we can afford, from time to time, to step outside the established framework. And obviously, if the building is of less interest, we are flexible.
The roofing materials must also be respected, natural slate in priority, but also zinc, as well as the colors. There too, they must be consistent with the time of the dwellings: the colors of oxblood, reddish brown are contemporary with the 14th and 15th centuries, when it will be more gray / blue in the 16th century, and ocher and glossy chestnut for 17th century buildings. Tones close to these colors are possible, suggests Jean-Christophe Blondel. In all, it is a majority of facades renovations and a total of store windows, approximately, which are activated each year.
Note that the interior fittings are normally the business of the owners, but that the architect of the Buildings of France can still have a right of inspection.
Costs … borne by the owners
Other aspects that can be tricky, and you have to look at it on a case-by-case basis: insulation from the outside, with 21st century materials, not very compatible with the old, the creation of terraces, “a rather new phenomenon has appeared. with the Covid ”. “People, especially those who live in the attic, want to cut the roof to install a terrace. The building must not be precious. »And finally, the solar panels which, there too, must not especially« massacre »a facade.
So who pays for all this? It is indeed the responsibility of the owners, even when the type of material is imposed, like the old windows mentioned earlier. If subsidies did exist, and still exist, they are becoming increasingly rare. To be in order, the procedure to follow is simple: you must complete a declaration of works online, which will be sent to the City or to the city’s urban planning department.
In the event of an infringement – if one replaces for example his window with small panes by one in PVC at night – the owner can be subjected to the obligation to uninstall the equipment, to put back a model similar to the original , and receive a report. But, in conclusion, the architect insists on his role and that of his department, which is far from being repressive: “For each case, we ask ourselves, we discuss, and we try to find solutions. “
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