Tender orange-yellow, almond green and lavender blue… The three houses side by side on rue du Professor Langevin in Brest (Finistère) offer a harmonious whole.
They are part of the 93 renovations or thermal insulation supported and financed by Brest Métropole since the launch of the “Envie de couleurs?
»On January 1, 2018.
“When talking with my neighbors, we realized that we had a common need: that of repainting our facades, so when I saw that the metropolis was offering subsidies, we started!
», Testifies Jean-Luc Legrand, at number 35. Each one received assistance of 700 euros as well as an additional 100 euros for the group approach.
"On 3000 euros of work, it is very interesting", loose Linda Cavaillé, at 37. "I wanted something more cheerful, but not too dark.
I sent my husband with our beige shutters and the colourist came up with two shades of yellow.
Now I am the yellow house!
"
Other emblematic cities
For these three, no bright tones like in Cape Town in South Africa, on the island of Burano in Italy, or closer to us, in Trentemoult (Loire-Atlantique) or certain buildings on rue Crémieux in Paris ( 12th century), but soft tones.
Anne-Marie Guéhéneuc, with three other neighbors from the rue de Lorient, in Brest, will redo her facade and change color.
LP / Anne-Laure Abraham
In Brest, in the Lanrédec district, the approach has not gone unnoticed.
“Neighbors asked me what the reference was for my color,” smiles Jean-Luc.
“When it's pretty, people are encouraged to tune in,” adds Linda.
Four other houses will take the plunge in the neighborhood.
Benoît Kermarrec, the hairdresser at 33, salutes him for his contribution of conviviality: “It brought us closer together because we met around a coffee to talk about the project.
We know each other better and there is more mutual aid ”.
Exactly one of the objectives of Brest Métropole.
It is for this reason and for the sake of consistency that there must be a minimum of two to benefit from the aid: 700 euros for work carried out by a company on a house, 800 euros if the projects are joint, 1400 euros for one. building…
"Guide people so that it is harmonious"
After a timid start, the operation is enjoying growing success with twenty-four streets followed.
The budget, of 35,000 euros per year, should soon be multiplied by four and a half to be deployed in sectors "with an urban transformation issue".
“Brest has the image of a gray city.
Adding color is a guarantee of well-being.
It is not a question of coloring the whole city, but of giving rhythm to town planning and guiding people so that it is harmonious ”, insists Tifenn Quiguer (PS), vice-president of the metropolis in charge of town planning.
Other cities, such as Lorient (Morbihan), also encourage color.
In Brest, a citizen movement from the Loucheur district was a pioneer and the authorities let it happen.
You just have to walk through the streets of the Kérigonan district to get an idea of the phenomenon.
In the rue Victor-Aubert, in Brest, a real fireworks display!
LP / Anne-Laure Abraham
Rue Victor-Aubert, pink rubs shoulders with yellow which itself adjoins a turquoise house.
Opposite, more turquoise, red and sparkling green.
A real fireworks display!
No parade of tourists or Instagramers, as in front of the tangy buildings of rue Crémieux in Paris (12th century), but a few people taking a selfie.
“We find that great.
It makes movement!
», Carole smiles, in front of her blue house.
An impact on the real estate market
It all started fifteen years ago on rue Félix Le Dantec with a few owners.
The new ones have taken up the torch: “It gives an identity,” Carole continues.
Morgan and Valère repainted their house pink in 2020 without permission or help: “We would probably have been refused because it is too clear-cut.
We prefer to keep a certain freedom, ”said the couple.
The choice is made in consultation with the neighbors.
In Brest, the first colorful houses were opened on rue Félix Le Dantec, 15 years ago.
LP / Anne-Laure Abraham
Morning essentials newsletter
A tour of the news to start the day
Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters
“We are in an architecture that lends itself to this, with a succession of small facades.
It works ", estimates Anne Petit, colorist consultant for Brest Métropole since 2016. This is crumbling under the requests before the summer:" We do according to the desires of the inhabitants, so there are bright colors, but we tell them also that some will age badly and whiten because they are not made to be subjected to UV ”, she warns.
One thing is certain: color has an impact on the real estate market: “We have clients who ask to buy in the neighborhood for the colorful houses.
Moreover, when we have a property for sale, we do not even have time to put the ad, ”says Yassine El Khlifi, head of the Laforêt agency.
