Maison mauresque de Valence, Moorish residence in Valence, France
The Maison Mauresque in Valence is a residence with oriental architecture, displaying geometric patterns, horseshoe arches, and flowing arabesques across its asymmetrical facade. The ground floor uses cut stone construction while upper levels feature molded concrete plates.
The house was built between 1858 and 1886, during a period when French artists traveled to North Africa seeking architectural inspiration for their designs. These journeys shaped a movement of architects who incorporated oriental elements into their European works.
The residence reflects how 19th-century French architects drew from North African and Middle Eastern styles and blended them into their own designs. This fascination with the Orient shows in every detail visitors can observe today.
The building sits in central Valence and is easy to reach on foot. The outer facade can be fully viewed from the street, making it simple to study the architectural details and stonework.
The house merges traditional Moorish design elements with molded concrete, a material developed in the Grenoble area during the early 1800s and later used across Europe. This combination of old style and modern building technique shows how transitional construction worked.
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