La Maison Rouge:
A Non Profit Organisation
La Maison Rouge association was born from the will to give this odd building down the Crêt de Roc hill a new life, as a hub for travellers and locals. The association manages the site, trying to create and maintain a social link with the locals. La Maison Rouge has hosted cultural events, starting as early as March 2015, with an exhibition during the International Design Biennial, and an opening night party and concert.
The idea was to transform the building into a friendly place for travellers. The renovation has been for a large part done through self-building, with several learning workshops and the help of many volunteers – see the list below. We have used ecological materials and processes: wall thermal insulation with hemp hurds, wood lath and earth plaster, ground slab in the basement, cellulose wadding insulation in the roof, thermal recovery of greywater from showers and the washing machine, etc.
The interior has been designed with the help of Captain Ludd, a group of designers whose office is also on the Crêt de Roc hill. Among other things, they conceived the ‘bed huts’ for the dormitory and designed the furnishing in the kitchen. Their guideline: simplicity and comfort of the guests.
Crêt de Roc: A Neighborhood unlike any other
Historically a district of gunsmiths and ribbon makers, the Crêt de Roc hill is representative of Saint-Étienne’s landscape and heritage. This hilly area, close to downtown, is atypical and cosmopolitan.
A lot of local initiatives coexist here, focused on social economy and the environment.
In particular, La Maison Rouge has partnered with Rues du Développement durable, an organisation that renovates former commercial buildings to help establish new businesses and social activities in the area. The Crêt de Roc also hosts the first eco-district of the city, and the first shared habitat.
By staying at La Maison Rouge, you will discover Saint-Étienne in a different way!
A big thank you to all the volunteers who have participated to the renovation : Marius, Jean, Marion, Philippe, Raymond, Virginie, Natacha, Maxime, Manue, Geoffrey, Noëllie, Cécile, Luc, Nadège, Lise, Mathieu, Ludwig, Saïd, Laurent, Jérôme, Yoan, Matthieu, Ali, Pierre-Jean, the AFPA interns and their advisors. The project has benefited from the financial support of the Rhône-Alpes Auvergne Region and the Loire Department. We thank them warmly. Thanks to Leo Virieu for the development of our graphic design. Thanks to Tony for reviewing the English version of the web site.
Want to contribute to our project? To submit your ideas? Become a member of the organisation!
Contact: lamaisonrouge.backpackerhostel@gmail.com
La Maison Rouge, Carole, Christophe, and Thomas.
Carole Timstit
Christophe Collard
