As enrollment at SCAD-Lacoste continues to grow, so does the Lacoste campus. The college has acquired a number of unique and historically significant buildings, which are being used as classrooms, studios, and housing. While many buildings are currently in use, others still need significant renovation before they will be able to be used to their full potential. One such collection of buildings is known as the Maison Basse.
In 2005, SCAD was fortunate to receive two grants toward the renovation of the Maison Basse. The Houston-based Brown Foundation Inc. presented the college with $150,000 and the Pittsburgh-based William Talbott Hillman Foundation presented the college with $100,000. Together, these gifts will move SCAD closer to creating a state-of-the-art educational facility in one of Provence’s treasured historic complexes.
Founded in 1951 by Herman and Margarett Root Brown and George R. and Alice Pratt Brown, the Brown Foundation Inc. awards millions of dollars each year to organizations involved in education, community service and the arts. While a majority of these grants are awarded to organizations in Texas, the Brown Foundation holds a special interest in furthering visual and performing arts and supporting non-traditional and innovative approaches. SCAD’s Maison Basse project fits well within these interests.
Established in 1986, the William Talbott Hillman Foundation is an independent foundation dedicated to supporting organizations involved in education, health care, human services, and performing and visual arts. Many of the foundation’s grants are awarded to organizations in New York and Pennsylvania, with average grants of less than $5,000.
The foundation’s generous grant toward the Maison Basse reflects its commitment to funding program development and building renovation. Foundation president William T. Hillman is also an alumnus of the Lacoste School of the Arts and a member of SCAD’s
European Board of Visitors.
“It would be hard to overstate the importance of the grants received from the Hillman and Brown Foundations,” said Barry M. Buxton, Ph.D., SCAD vice president for institutional advancement–Atlanta. “Both foundations focus giving in a specific, limited geographic area. With the grants to SCAD, both foundations said even though this request was outside of their normal target areas of giving, they recognized the importance of the Lacoste campus and wanted to help the college in our preservation efforts. Their support is a resounding endorsement of the college and a firm statement about their belief in SCAD.”
The origins of the Maison Basse Tucked into a valley between Lacoste and Bonnieux, the Maison Basse stands as a reminder of medieval European life; the complex once belonged to the Marquis de Sade and his family, and shows signs of continuous habitation from prehistory through the 1960s. The structures, now surrounded by grape vineyards and almond trees, reveal signs of a rich history of rural living; pottery found onsite hints at decades of ceramic production, and each room and structure bears the marks of a once-thriving household.
The Maison Basse complex is comprised of four structures, all of which feature limestone wall construction and terra cotta roofing that reflect the traditional building methods of the region. The maison de mâitre, or main building, contains more than 20 rooms, including a large kitchen, living quarters, grain storage area and barn. Other buildings include a grange structure and two small adjacent buildings. Remnants of stone stairs, perimeter walls and a formal garden also remain.
From rural retreat to cultural complex Since arriving in Lacoste in 2001, SCAD has moved forward to integrate the Maison Basse into the college’s facilities. Regional restoration experts have already developed a multiphase plan to restore the buildings, and structure stabilization has been a priority. Because of the substantial deterioration of the Maison Basse buildings, significant work still needs to be done. Plans include structural strengthening of all buildings; restoration of floors, windows, doors and walls; installation of modern electricity and plumbing; and development of landscaping, roads, walks and other outdoor features.
Once complete, the renovated Maison Basse complex will significantly boost the resources available to the ever-growing SCAD-Lacoste community. The Maison Basse will offer artist studios and housing for students, faculty and staff. These facilities in turn will allow the college to offer a wider assortment of classes. The Lacoste community will also benefit from the restoration of Maison Basse; as SCAD-Lacoste grows, so will the community’s revenue.
“The Maison Basse has been an important crossroad building in the village’s history. Its final restoration into housing for the college community will once again bring people from different places together,” said Kate Firebaugh, SCAD campus liaison. “The experience of SCAD-Lacoste is about meeting new people and exploring the unfamiliar to open up the mind for new ideas.”
On the scene SCAD historic preservation students and professors have uncovered a lavoire, or large washing basin, on the Maison Basse property. The lavoire may date back to the 13th century, and originally was used to wash clothes and served as a meeting place for the local community. Since the discovery, students have been working to excavate the area and restore the lavoire. “It will be a centerpiece of the development SCAD-Lacoste is doing in the valley below the village at Maison Basse. It is really an exciting project for our students — both graduates and undergraduates,” said historic preservation professor Jim Abraham. Students already have reapplied stucco to the exterior walls and begun to reset the limestone capstones. In addition to the hands-on work, the students researched the history of the lavoire and its relationship to the Maison Basse property.
Giving opportunities While the significant grants from the Brown Foundation and the William Talbott Hillman Foundation have enabled progress to move forward on the Maison Basse, more funds are needed to complete this project. Opportunities are available to fund the restoration of the Maison Basse’s main house, attached stable, pool, pool house, ecurié, formal garden, garden wall, lavoire, landscaping, property wall restoration, driveway and road.
For more information on giving opportunities in Lacoste, contact the office of institutional advancement at 912.525.5850.
