We cannot talk about the “shapers” of Rennes, as Le Mensuel did in its last issue, without overlooking the one who left the greatest mark on the city with his own style: Georges Maillols. The architect, a graduate of the Beaux-Arts, arrived in Rennes in 1947. At that time, the city was partly unsanitary and there was a significant need for housing. In his profession, Maillols was admired both for the extent of his work – over a hundred buildings in Rennes – and for his style, “in keeping with the fashion of the time”. “There is not a single project designed by Georges Maillols that is not worthy of interest,” maintains architect Laurent Lagadec. “He was a pioneer, a visionary.”
Concrete
At the time, Georges Maillols surprised with the use of prefabricated concrete, which would remain one of his trademarks. This is what allowed him to complete his masterpiece: the Horizons towers. Built in 1970, they remain, to this day, the tallest towers in Rennes. They house some 480 apartments. The first high-rise building dedicated to housing, the building even served as a model for French standards in this area. Beyond their visual appearance, the buildings and houses designed by Maillols stand out for their organization: “The surfaces are quite generous,” describes Laurent Lagadec. They are through, well ventilated, well exposed. »
Died in 1998 at the age of 85, Georges Maillols certainly left behind the most significant architectural heritage of the Breton capital. We owe part of the city’s identity to him.
