Saint-André-la-Roche - Silos de la carrière de Saint-André
- department: Alpes-Maritimes
- municipality: Saint-André-la-Roche
- naming: Silos de la carrière de Saint-André
- address : Saint-André quarry, route de Levens
- author: Honoré TOSCAN (architect)
- date: 1964-1965
- protection: unprotected building
- label patrimoine XXe: Commission régionale du patrimoine et des sites (CRPS) du 16 November 2006
After having created in 1920 a company of transport and supply of sand and gravel alluvium, Jean Spada started from 1934, in the exploitation of limestone quarries, before becoming interested in the market of public works (1938). The first installations for quarrying are based in the territory of the municipality of Saint-André-de-la-Roche, whose limestone massif had undeniable advantages for the quality of the materials, good extraction conditions and a privileged geographical position. As part of these operations, in 1965 the company Jean Spada awarded to the architect Honoré Toscan the commission of an industrial establishment for the transformation of the stone extracted from the quarry of Saint-André-de-la-Roche.
Located near the quarry to be operated, the complex consists of two buildings dedicated to crushing and storage, connected by external conveyor belts. In the large block pavilion overlooking the slope, the large stones unloaded by the trucks are gradually sprayed. After an initial cycle, the stones descend to the silo via an external conduit. A second conveyor belt takes products from the silo to the main pavilion.
This industrial building program and the use of raw concrete for removal induce very massive volumes, but the architect strives to find elegant profiles. The silo takes the conical or diabolo forms typical of the design of the period (water towers, furniture, lights...). The grey of the rough concrete is associated with the bright blue and red of the metal parts (conduits, ...) according to the spirit of the "brutalist" current of the 1950s and 1960s.
The ensemble represents one of the rare examples of quality industrial architecture of the years of growth in the Alpes-Maritimes department.
- Editors: Jean-Lucien Bonillo & Raffaella Telese/ INAMA Laboratory/ ENSA Marseille, 2005-2008
Read also in Heritage of the 20th century, the study The Glorious Thirty in the Alpes-Maritimes
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