Views of Lacoste and one of our projects

Classes started on Monday.  I am teaching two classes at Lacoste and one online.  The two in Lacoste are: Preservation Rehabilitation (6 graduates and 3 undergraduates) and International Preservation Technology (6 graduates and 4 undergraduates).  Tomorrow all classes will go on a field trip to Nimes (amphitheater and Maison Carree)  and Pont du Gard (Roman aqueduct).

I am posting photos of streets scenes of Lacoste and the structure the Rehab class is working on, Le Temple (the Protestant church in Lacoste).

This was the bakery.  It is now the SCAD

Library.

The clock tower--the bell rings all night long.

Center of town/the post office is the large rectangular structure on the left.  The Catholic church is behind the post office.  Tuesday morning there is an open market in the parking lot.

Le Temple, once the Protestant church, now owned by the city and used for public events (i.e., movies, art exhibits, lecturer, etc.).  There is very little information about the church.  We think it was constructed in the late 19th century.  It is located outside the city walls.  The Luberon Valley was the center of many religious battles during the 16th and 17th centuries.  My rehab class will measure the structure and prepare measured drawings.  We will redesign the interior spaces--large open space on the first and second floor that do not reflect the historic structure.

There was an earlier Protestant church inside the city walls, but it was destroyed by the Duke of Savoy in the 1650s.

Chelsea and Beth sketching architectural features on the front of the church.

Lori and Sara are measuring the east elevation.  They are about ten feet below the street level.  The ground drops off sharply just to the left of the iron fence.  We notice several caves under the church.  Next week we will come with flashlights and explore the caves,

Katie and Kelly are measuring the front steps.  In the evenings the students are working on the CAD drawings.