Béthune : Building

During the First World War, the historic center of Béthune was completely destroyed and the private heritage underwent numerous damages due to the bombing. The reconstruction was mainly funded by the State. In Bethune, the rehabilitation of housing is divided into two components: on the one hand, the Compagnie des Mines de Noux and the Northern Company produce large sets of housing for workers on the outskirts of the city; On the other hand, the restoration of individual dwellings is managed by nine cooperatives. The municipal council has set up an aesthetic commission to assess the plans submitted by the architects with a view to the reconstruction of the Maisons de la Grand'Place. This building was designed by Jacques Alleman, who respected the regionalist style, integrating elements strongly influenced by the Flemish tradition and classicism, while taking into account the space of the place and the old parcel configuration. Each house has a very slender gable on the street, with a store on the ground floor and apartments on the floors.