Maison Repiquet, house in Saint-Denis, France

Maison Repiquet is a two-storey stone house at 25 rue de Paris in central Saint-Denis. Its flat roof is a reinforced concrete slab that replaced the original four-sloped roof torn off by Cyclone Jenny in 1962. The facade has arched upper windows with louvred shutters, and a veranda with cast-iron columns runs behind a white wrought-iron gate and railings set between dark stone pillars.

The house was constructed from 1839 to 1844 as the first stone-built residential structure on the island, marking a shift in local building practices. Cyclone Jenny destroyed the original roof in 1962, which was later replaced with a flat concrete slab, and the structure has been protected as a historic monument since 1990.

The name Repiquet comes from Solange Repiquet (1913-2011, born Lagourgue), daughter of Adrien Lagourgue, who inherited the house in 1962 and had its roof rebuilt after Cyclone Jenny. A plaque on the perimeter wall records that Michel Debré once lived here. The house is closed during the restoration begun in 2022, so its verandas and iron gate are seen from the street.

The house sits in central Saint-Denis and is easy to reach by local transport. Most details are visible from outside, but visitors should note that restoration work is ongoing until 2026 and access may be limited depending on the construction phase.

The house was the first stone-built structure on the island, breaking from traditional wooden construction and underscoring its importance to the region's building history. A commemorative plaque marks that Michel Debré, a notable French politician, once lived there.