Memory and post-war reconstruction in France: Louis Arretche and the revival of Saint-Malo

For a long time neglected by scholars, the figure of Louis Arretche deserves more attention not only by virtue of his long-lasting career but also because, in its complexity, it is emblematic of the so-called Trente Glorieuses. A crucial period in France, especially for the approaches followed in the treatment of the historic city, marked by subsequent experiments carried out since the end of the World War II. In charge of the reconstruction of Saint-Malo, hardly hit by bombing in August 1944, the architect will strive to rebuild its historic soul. His project, founded on a meticulous knowledge process, will follow the principles of a sort of modern regionalism, albeit free from archaisms or nostalgic visions. Design criteria resulting from a compromise between the revival of the historical appearance and the formulation of a personal architectural language marked by both his awareness of reinforced concrete and the rejection of the formal rigidity of Modernism. Taking its cue from an analysis of the entire process of the so-called ‘second reconstruction’, this paper debates the case study of the Breton town, less known than others, such as Le Havre, but however an emblematic example of a reconstruction plan based on innovative traditionalism. An experience, which will later influence Arretche’s activities for the safeguarding of the historical sectors of Paris, le Marais and Rouen, established under the provision of the 1962 Malraux law