Lavoirs : Washhouses of Rural France
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
No building better embodies the ineffable qualities of rural France than the lavoir, the communal washhouse that, until a few decades ago, was the central gathering place for women in many small villages across the French countryside – as much a part of communal life as the market.
These open-air laundry rooms first appeared for the private use of the social elite in the seventeenth century but flourished as public spaces after the Revolution. Later, they became architectural monuments of regional styles and local materials, often hand-cut stone and hewn timbers, revealing centuries of masonry and woodworking tradition. As running water and modern appliances became standard in French homes after World War II, the lavoirs were abandoned, and with them three hundred years of women’s gathering and conversation. In spite of the efforts of preservationists, hundreds of them have faced abandonment, vandalism, and decay.
Through stunning duotone photographs, thoughtful sketches, and detailed watercolors, Mireille Roddier safeguards these places of haunting beauty. Her text outlines the history, politics, health, water technology, and social background of the buildings and unveils them as an important architectural type worthy of our study, admiration, and protection.
About the Author
Mireille Roddier is an architect and teaches at University of Michigan.
Lavoirs : Washhouses of Rural France,Mireille Roddier,Princeton Arch,1568983921,Architecture,Cleaning & Caretaking - General,France,General,History,Laundry,Public laundries,Vernacular architecture,Architecture / General,Frankreich,House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking,Waschhäuser
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