A 16th-century half-timbered house listed as a historic monument in the historic centre of Lannion - ref 170649
A 16th-century half-timbered house listed as a historic monument in the historic centre of Lannion.
Situated in Brittany in the Côtes-d'Armor department, this building is on a lively street in Lannion, which has been awarded the "Petite cité de caractère" (small town full of character) label and is regularly cited as one of the best towns to live in. The surrounding area is made up of green spaces, narrow cobbled pedestrian streets, small shops, stalls and half-timbered houses. A weekly market is held nearby. The sea, Paris and other continental destinations are easily accessible with the nearby TGV station and expressway. The town also has a number of schools. The Pink Granite Coast is a 15-minute drive away.
The residence is situated in a shopping street, within the town's old fortifications, which still include around 30 half-timbered houses. Other timber-framed houses line the street on either side, as far as the market square. The plots of land are narrow, so the architecture was designed to allow as many merchants as possible to have a storefront. The house has a slate gable roof. The three-storey building comprises a shop on the ground floor and a large three-bedroom flat on the upper floors. The slightly pronounced corbelling is anchored in granite masonry walls. The frame is wood, with vertical and horizontal sections combined with framework. The timber frames are short and mark the height of each storey. Decorations are still visible on the vertical sections at either end of the building. They are marked by a short carved wooden panel topped with a lozenge. The wood is painted ochre and red. Lastly, a large three-panel window with medium-sized panes and wooden frames allows plenty of natural light into the first two floors.
The half-timbered house Houses of this type and period had an identical layout, with a ground floor devoted to trading, an upper floor for the family's living quarters and an attic to house apprentices. This dual use, both commercial and residential, is still preserved here.
The ground floor
It is accessed through a solid black wooden door with a fanlight. The first entrance hall is shared by the commercial and private areas. The shop is bright and airy, with a large window overlooking the street, with small panes above it and the front door, as well as another window. On the floor, sea rush blends harmoniously with the white walls and beautifully crafted brown wooden beams. A few granite stone features, such as the jambs or heels of an old fireplace, are visible and add to building's cachet. There is a common door, but an independent access could be envisaged for the shop, for customer use only. Above a second communal hallway, whose entrance is a solid door, a trapdoor in the floor leads to a stone spiral staircase. It leads to a cellar that covers the entire ground floor. The business has a stock room with a sink and toilet.
The first floor
The stairwell is bright, thanks to a roof window and a window facing the rear of the house. The walls are finished in white render, contrasting with the solid wood of the staircase. A large living room forms the centrepiece of the flat. The low ceiling gives the room an intimate feel. Large beams are exposed and some of the woodwork has been showcased. A granite fireplace has been preserved, but is not in working order. It is currently used as a little library. A kitchen is located in the back, on a half-level. It is partly fitted out and has a large roof window to allow plenty of light in. The upper floor is accessed via the living room.
The second floor
A landing leads to two bedrooms, a linen room, a shower room and a separate toilet. The various rooms are modestly sized, but everything is very functional. The decor is pure and uncluttered, with wood and granite highlighted. The floors are ...
