What is a maison toulousaine?
A maison toulousaine, also known as a Toulousaine, is a type of traditional house from the Toulouse region that has no upper floor and features distinctive characteristics closely linked to its historical origins.
At the end of the 19th century, this type of house was very common and originally had no specific name. Since most of them were market gardeners’ houses on the outskirts of Toulouse (whose owners used their gardens for growing produce sold in the nearest town) the terms “maison de maraîcher”, “maison maraîchère” or simply “maraîchère” were originally used to describe this type of dwelling. Other tradespeople could also live in these Toulouse houses.
It was not until the early 21st century that the names “maison toulousaine”, “petite toulousaine” and “toulousaine” were coined and popularised by the association Les petites Toulousaines, with the aim of safeguarding these modest houses.
How to recognise a maison toulousaine?
Historically, the maison toulousaine is part of the regional vernacular architecture that extends along the entire Garonne basin. Here are some of its architectural features:
- The maison toulousaine is a modest, single-storey house with 3, 4 or 5 window bays on its facade.
- It consists of a single volume covered by a two-pitched roof and is most often built flush with the street, sharing party walls on either side, with a large garden at the rear.
- Generally, the Toulousaine is symmetrical and has a central corridor giving access to two rooms on each side. Before the widespread introduction of mains drainage, this corridor could be crossed by a central gutter that carried wastewater outside.
- The Toulousaine has no upper floor but may have a cellar and an attic, ventilated and lit by small round, square or diamond-shaped openings. However, some houses do have an upper floor, in which case they are called “Toulousaine surélevée” or “Toulousaine à talons hauts” (raised Toulousaine or high-heeled Toulousaine).
- It is built in exposed brick. The walls could, however, be rendered and coated with limewash to ensure their durability, with the brick remaining exposed around doors and windows, cornices and mouldings.
- Beneath the roof, at the top of the wall, one could find a cornice known as a “listel”.
Toulousaines intended for a wealthier clientele could also feature distinctive characteristics such as a slight setback from the street, a raised ground floor above a basement, higher-quality building materials and a greater abundance of moulded elements.
The maison toulousaine, a heritage to preserve
These traditional houses are becoming increasingly rare and are falling victim to urban densification, making them easy targets for property developers. Very few genuine Toulousaines that have survived the passage of time intact remain standing between the ever-more imposing facades of apartment buildings. Some local residents and defenders of these structures are attempting to influence changes to the Local Urban Plan (PLU). Since Toulouse architecture is deeply rooted in the region, new constructions imitating the style of these small houses can also be found, in order to preserve this tradition.
Purchasing a maison toulousaine
Originally simple homes, Toulouse houses are among the houses in Toulouse that are increasingly sought after and now rank among the most charming properties. They are prized for their authentic character and above all because they are part of the local heritage. However, the supply of these traditional houses, reflections of regional heritage, has become very limited.
Prices can soar depending on their condition and the quality of their renovation. For a charming Toulousaine in the heart of Toulouse, expect to pay between 900,000 and over 1 million euros, depending on the neighbourhood, the living area and the features of the property.
The Toulouse style extends to the nearby surroundings of Toulouse and can also be found in certain houses for sale in Balma as well as in other sought-after residential neighbourhoods. These rare properties combine heritage and modernity.
Do not hesitate to contact the consultants at our real estate agency in Toulouse if you would like more information about the market for Toulouse houses.
