Notre Dame de l'Assomption church in Le Teil was heavily damaged by the earthquake in November 2019. Restoring it would appear to be a risky and costly business. It was therefore agreed by the Town Council that it would be demolished and rebuilt nearby. An architectural competition was launched in the first half of 2023.
Today we would like to propose a different vision for the future of Place Jean Macé, outside the official competition. We want to study the revival of the religious building while respecting the memory of the site, preserving the original urban layout whilst developing a wider project for a landscaped public space to enhance and revitalise Le Teil town centre.
URBAN PROJECT
Rehabilitating the Church rather than moving it in no way represents a conservative, nostalgic vision of a world that we might think is a thing of the past. The issue is more complex and does not seem to be aimed solely at the local Catholic population: the France of local communities is gradually giving way to the France of roundabouts. The famous roundabout, which has been a specific French feature for several decades, is shaping rural areas and developing urban fringe development around small towns. Le Teil is no exception to this trend. The roundabout at the entrance to the town, which connects it to neighbouring towns via a bypass on the main road, sucks up most of the commercial activity and becomes a second, "off-centre" town centre. The bakery, the butcher's shop, the tobacconist and the chemist are all grouped together in the centre of a car park in a functional, mediocre architecture with no identity. The "real" town centre is dying. One by one, historic shops are closing their doors. The roundabout replaces the church square in a completely different way. Urban sprawl, the omnipresence of the car and franchised shops have a number of harmful economic, environmental and social effects. The redevelopment we are proposing should give new impetus to Le Teil town centre by restoring sociability, socialisation and identity. Let's try to put the church back at the centre of the village.
The site of the former car garage has been chosen for the official project. This plot forms one of the four corners of Place Jean Macé. It is in a rather inauspicious position for a building as emblematic as a place of worship. Relegated to the background of the urban composition, this site would benefit from being given a more classic design. A more modest development would ideally complement the existing building frontage. Urban densification is very positive when it comes to the climate emergency. A new business or housing project would therefore be a natural extension to the town houses that extend from the town hall to the north of the square.
ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT
The demolition of built heritage certainly makes an impact, all the more so when the cause is natural and fortuitous. Such an event deserves to be depicted through the act of rebuilding. By deliberately amplifying the consequences of the earthquake on the existing building, we are creating a historic setting conducive to the rebirth of the church. This frees the ruins from their vulnerability, purged of their structural weaknesses. By preserving in them the memory of the elders, the prayers of the faithful and a certain face of Le Teil, they represent a heritage at the heart of which the new building stands.
Like many other villages in France, the famous triptych comprising the town hall, school and church naturally revolves around Place Jean Macé. The Notre Dame de l'Assomption church is therefore a major urban landmark in Le Teil. We propose to design a streamlined building with a simple shape that will discreetly slip between the ruins. The future envelope will be two-fold: the new timber frame, clad in aluminium sheets, will stand alongside the 1897 stone walls. The simplicity of the new, slightly reflective metal construction is a counterpoint to the minerality and neo-Romanesque style of the existing elements, some of which we have retained. To complete the design, the bell tower stands out and takes the form of a campanile with the same metal cladding, topped with an assembly of a black steel crosses and glass louvres.
Inside, tranquillity and contemplation dominate. The timber frame rests on a rough concrete base and terminates at the top, in line with the nave, with a glazed capital that diffuses light from the sky. This is constructive truth, where the structural principles are clearly expressed in the interior décor. Only a slight vibration provided by a succession of ribbed trims, fixed between the interior rafters, enriches the apparent architectural simplicity. Wooden flooring and a set of simple benches complete the look.
By putting together these themes for reflection, we are attempting to answer the following question: What is the place of the church as a religious building in the heart of small French towns and villages in 2025? Our architectural response has the merit of calling into question the decisions taken since the earthquake in 2019 by those involved in the official project. At the same time, I can't help thinking of my ancestor who, in 1897, was working as a carpenter on the interior of Notre Dame de l'Assomption church in Le Teil.
