The 17th century covered market in Richelieu has not long been fully
restored. The wooden pillars stabilised, carpentry whitewashed, new floor and services installed, practical glass wind breaks around the perimeter, and a new slate roof with copper guttering.
I noticed that the slates are not fixed with the usual 'S' shaped hooks, but must be nailed on. I liked the nifty solution to divert water from rushing down the junction between the market roof and the adjoining building's gable -- a little lip which sends the water to the right and then allows it to fall down into the gutter, very practical, aesthetic and clever.
7 comments:
They've turned the run-down and merely "noteworthy"....
into something smart, useful....
and, dare I say it, modern?
It should win awards for renovation, for upmarketing [oops, sorry]...
and attractiveness....
Love that little water diverter... so neat!!
The French CAN do quality... it is just that all too often....
they choose not to!!
We once stayed in Richelieu in a B&B looking over the main square. It's a very pleasant little town. I don't remember seeing the market so perhaps it hadn't yet been restored. I agree that the lip is very neat.
Tim, your comment about "The French" tends toward the stereotypical. The English are just like that about other nationalities, I think.
I just looked back through photos and found two of the market hall at Richelieu — one from Sept. 2003 and the other from July 2006. So it's been open to the public for quite a while. The glass is new, that's all.
Ken... you wrote "The glass is new, that's all."...
OH NO, IT ISN'T!!
Take a look at both the link from this post of Susan's...
and here [http://inandaroundbraye.blogspot.fr/2012/05/update-on-les-halles-richelieu.html] on Colin & Elizabeth's...
I think the Mayor would have kittens if he thought that it was still in its 2006 state...
having spent 1,647,000 € on the works!!
It isn't that they are French that caused my comment on finition...
If something is worth doing it should be done properly.
France and Spain are the only places I've seen with bare wires out of ceilings and uncovered switches...
and plasterboard finishing short of the doors...
as well as dodgy tiling....
all passed off as finished!
We've had all work done by local artisans...
and most of it looks like amateur bricolage!
Even our Chabby artisan built back door was delivered warped!
All I meant, Tim, was that the structure and charpente were there and open to the public as early as 11 years ago, the first time I went to Richelieu. As for the rest, you need to find different contractors, and stop blaming an entire nation for a couple of botched jobs.
I think Susan s picture makes it look a bit like a bunker... I like the way it has been done and have 'in the flesh' never noticed it being bunker like. C
Fraussie: the covered market was certainly there, right on the main square, and in use twice a week as the market place. BTW, I think the gite you stayed in is owned by an Australian now.
Tim: I agree with Ken re the workmanship. I think you were lucky in the UK and unlucky in France (and remember that your project manager in France was English and did not do a very good job).
I remember looking at a house for rent when we first arrived in the UK and asking when it would be finished. The owner looked at me as if I was mad and said it was finished, but what I was seeing was an appalling hodgepodge of bricolage. Needless to say we didn't rent it.
Colin: I think your comment belongs on the next day's post, n'est-ce pas?
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