The Model House reveals its secrets.
October 2024
A stone façade hidden beneath the plaster
The façade restoration carried out by the Atelier d’Architecture Antoine de Gironde led to a major discovery: beneath the plaster render lies the original façade entirely built in ashlar stone, constructed by Léonard Bréant in 1728.
The careful removal of the render revealed a complex stratigraphy with three distinct phases :
Bush‑hammered stone : Most of the façade reveals ashlar deliberately picked and roughened to receive the plaster decoration. This meticulous bush‑hammering was carried out outside the horizontal bands, demonstrating careful preparation in which only the areas intended to remain smooth were preserved.
Preserved witnesses : Only a few faces of the ashlar blocks have remained intact on the trumeaux, formerly covered with a simple limewash. These rare fragments, preserved thanks to the recommendation of manual chiselling, allow the exceptional quality of the original stone cutting to be appreciated. The fineness of the joints, tinted in ochre or brick‑red between the blocks, confirms the nobility of the material used.
Construction techniques : The discovery of small wooden wedges inserted between the stone blocks reveals the use of a traditional building method. According to historical masonry glossaries, these “thin pieces of wood placed between two courses” were used to determine the width of the joint. This practice, inherited from medieval techniques, demonstrates the continuity of traditional construction methods within French classical architecture.
The revealing string course
The most spectacular discovery concerns the perfectly legible upper string course of the original façade. This line of demarcation precisely marks the limit of the eighteenth‑century construction, confirming historical research that placed the later raising of the building in the Restoration period.
The house of Léonard Bréant, described in 1760 as “built with a ground floor, cellars beneath; two full storeys and a panelled third level,” now appears in its original configuration thanks to this perfectly preserved string course.
A comprehensive transformation during the Restauration
Observation reveals a coherent intervention dating from 1814–1830: the raising of the roofline and the decorative re‑rendering were part of a single campaign of works. To create a visually uniform façade, the whole surface was bush‑hammered to receive plaster ornamentation, visually uniting the old and new levels. This strategy concealed the difference between Bréant’s fine ashlar stone and the more ordinary masonry of the extension.
The Restoration‑period plaster decoration features a rich ornamental repertoire characteristic of neo‑classical taste :
The main bay features a triangular pediment adorned with garlands, sculpted consoles with neo‑Louis XVI floral motifs, decorative panels flanking the carriage entrance, and an ornamented lintel at the first floor.
The raised storey is adorned with cornucopias, symbols of prosperity typical of the period.
The original storeys display horizontal bands with geometric friezes, moulded window surrounds, decorated trumeaux and cast‑iron railings with an H‑profile (c. 1820–1830).
An architectural palimpsest
This discovery illustrates the complexity of Versailles' heritage, where successive periods overlap :
1728 : House built in ashlar by Léonard Bréant.
1742-1754 : Occupation by Mansart de Sagonne
1814-1830 : Raised and remodelled with plaster decorations
Février 2025 : Revelation of the original façade
Restoration choices
This discovery raised crucial questions: should the original stone façade be reinstated, or should the plaster decorations, which have now become part of the building’s history, be retained?
Heritage decision: after consultation with the MAP (Maison de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine), it was decided to preserve the coherent plaster décor corresponding to the last known state. This approach respects the historical evolution of the building.
Technical solution: a stone sample was sent to a traditional plaster workshop (active since 1880, on a quarry/site in use since 1760) to faithfully reproduce the original tone. This process preserves the visual unity of the façade while respecting the authentic materials and techniques of the Restoration period.
Historical clarification
It is necessary to correct a common error: the Hôtel Mansart de Sagonne located at 28 Rue des Tournelles in Paris (and not in Versailles) is indeed the work of Jules Hardouin‑Mansart (1667–1670). Jacques Hardouin‑Mansart de Sagonne, his grandson and the architect of Saint‑Louis in Versailles, lived there and died there.
The house at 8 Rue des Tournelles in Versailles is therefore a distinct property where Jacques Hardouin‑Mansart de Sagonne resided temporarily to supervise the construction of the church, but it is by no means the family hôtel in Paris.
An exemplary case study
The “House Model” has become a case study of the challenges of heritage restoration. It illustrates how historic buildings bear traces of multiple periods, each having contributed to the present structure.
This exceptional discovery was the subject of exchanges with the MAP, underscoring the scientific importance of these archaeological revelations. The discussions helped to contextualize the findings within the broader understanding of construction techniques in Versailles.
This revelation confirms that every façade‑restoration project can contribute to the advancement of historical and technical knowledge of France’s built heritage.
