Mario Roustan School

The Mario Roustan Elementary School is one of the most remarkable school complexes in Angoulême from the interwar period. Built between 1931 and 1932 in the working-class neighborhood of Saint-Cybard, it is now recognized for its architectural and heritage value thanks to the “Remarkable Contemporary Architecture” designation (formerly “20th-Century Heritage”).

History

The school was built amid rapid population growth in the Saint-Cybard suburb, which at the time was dominated by paper mills and industrial activities. A girls’ school (Victor-Duruy) had already existed since 1882 on Rue de Saintes. To meet the neighborhood’s needs, the municipality decided to build a modern boys’ school.

On August 2, 1930, architect Roger Baleix presented his design. The school was inaugurated on February 21, 1932, and named after Mario Roustan, then Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts.

Architecture

The school is an excellent example of 1930s school architecture, inspired by the hygienist principles of the time:

• a U-shaped layout organized around a large central courtyard;
• large windows providing abundant natural light and ventilation;
• classrooms, each equipped with a locker room;
• a monumental entrance pavilion opening onto Place Mulac;
• the principal’s residence integrated into the school complex.

Stylistically, Roger Baleix blends several influences:

• Art Deco, with its geometric compositions and blue and gold ceramic tile decorations;
• regionalist architecture, particularly evident in the overhanging roofs with varying slopes, reminiscent of vacation villas;
• inspiration from the Parisian school on Rue Rouelle, designed by architect Louis Bonnier in 1912, adapted to the Angoumois context.

Roger Baleix

Architect Roger Baleix was one of the leading figures in Charente architecture during the interwar period. He designed several schools in the region, notably the Marie-Curie School in Angoulême. His work combines functional modernity, aesthetic refinement, and high-quality materials.

Heritage

In 2015, the school received the “Remarkable Contemporary Architecture” designation, which recognizes buildings representative of 20th-century architecture. This recognition is based on several criteria:

• the quality of its architectural design;
• its excellent state of preservation;
• its significance in the history of French school architecture;
• its status as a representative example of Art Deco in the Poitou-Charentes region.

The school has undergone relatively few changes since its inauguration, allowing it to retain most of its original character.

A Testament to Angoulême’s History

Beyond its educational function, the Mario Roustan School illustrates Angoulême’s urban development in the early 20th century. Its location in the industrial district of Saint-Cybard reflects the public authorities’ commitment to providing workers’ children with a modern, bright, and healthy school, in line with the educational and public health ideals of the Third Republic. It is thus one of the city’s most iconic examples of 20th-century architectural heritage.

Entry from the Mérimée database (architectural heritage): ACR0000945