Blois, Loir-et-Cher - France

Basilique Notre Dame de la Trinité, in typical style of religious buildings of the 1930s.

Between 1930 and 1932, start of the initial project led by Charles-Henri Besnard (a parisian architect). To save on cost and building time, he chose to use new techniques based around molded concrete and bricks. Unfortunately, the project had to stop just after the first bricks were layed when the architect and property developer were charged with negligence (bad foundations, expensive fees, defects,…).
In 1936, the project is re-started from scratch with the appointment of a new architect Paul Rouvière. His plans are inspired by the style of roman basilicas. The building will be made out of raw concrete covered by sand and gravels from the river Loire (brownish colour).The construction starts straight away but is stopped in 1939 when the war is declared. Paul Rouvière, the architect, is one of the first french officers to be fatally injured in September 1939.
Construction resumes in March 1946 under Yves-Marie Froidevaux, chief architect of the french historical monuments. The church was finally inaugurated in the 16th of July 1949.