A veritable advertisement. That’s what the facade of the Ancien magasin de commerce Mahieu is. We’re standing in front of a building steeped in history. It’s located at 1 rue de la Gare in Armentières. Today, let’s uncover the story of the Ancien magasin de commerce Mahieu.
The Ancien magasin de commerce Mahieu was constructed around 1880. Emile Vandenberghe from Lille designed it. It was built for the purpose of selling linen fabrics. The building suffered partial destruction during the First World War. However it was meticulously rebuilt to its original design.
Emile Vandenberghe, born in Lille in 1827, was a prominent architect. He was a student of Henri Labrouste and later became a professor of architecture in Lille.
Look closely at the facade of the Ancien magasin de commerce Mahieu. You’ll notice its unique design. It incorporates a series of monograms and armorial bearings. These insignias belonged to the original owner, Auguste Mahieu. The facade also features ironwork and sculpted elements.
The building consists of two adjoining structures. Each has four bays. They cross the block between Rue de la Gare and Rue Paul-Pouchain. The southern part facing us was the commercial area. The northern side served as the industrial warehouse. Connecting these two sections is a central hall. It has a metal arched roof. The hall is adorned with a glass roof. It displays the words “Filature et Tissage”. At the center of the rosette, you can observe the entwined letters A and M. This is the monogram of Auguste Mahieu.
The walls are made of brick. They are covered with plaster imitating stone. The bays feature segmental arched windows. Notice the double legs separating the bays. At the top are the letters A and M. Above these legs, blazons display the arms of various cities. These include Lyon, Bordeaux, Elbeuf, Paris and Lille. Also Armentières, Nantes, Toulouse and Nancy.
The Ancien magasin de commerce Mahieu once served as a commercial warehouse. It was used for the Auguste Mahieu filatures and weaving operations. Later, in 1988, it became an industrial warehouse for Beaudeux establishments. In 2020, the building transitioned into a cinema called Ciné-Lumières.
The facades and roofs facing Rue de la Gare are protected. So are the hall with its glass roof and the metal structure of the lateral stores. These elements were registered as historical monuments on April 21, 2000. The Ancien magasin de commerce Mahieu stands as a testament to Armentières’ commercial past. It showcases the architectural talent of Emile Vandenberghe. Preserved today, this building continues to enrich the city’s cultural heritage.