Bureau Central, France

Bureau Central was the main offices for a large family run metal company, located in France. Sometimes, the location is called Bureau Centrale. We visited this location during the Italy Road Trip 2018 – The Greenhouse Tour – Part 2.

These offices once housed the immense amount of paper records generated by the enterprise, the family obviously being fastidious about their record keeping.

This family had been pioneers of industry since the 18th Century. Their constant drive to modernise and upgrade the factories eventually made them the largest iron producer in France by the 1870s. Over the next decade they branched out into the steel industry, by opening a large steelworks in this town.

This immense empire required a workforce of over 7000, including many clerical and administration staff. The family decided they would require grand offices, to impress potential clients and to broadcast their affluence. They opened Bureau Central in the 1890’s, the grand design of this immense structure was indeed a wonder to behold.

After World War Two, the coal mining industry became nationalised and this once family-run empire followed suit and became owned by the state. The family is still a globally recognised name, having successfully diversified into an investment broker.

Bureau Central was closed in the 1980s, and is rusting and crumbling as the decades trudge by. Regeneration of the surrounding area offers a glimmer of hope that this building may yet be saved.

Architecture of Bureau Central

The main entrance has wrought iron gates, which open up into the large central courtyard. An impressive glass skylight covers this courtyard, supported by large steel girders manufactured by the the nearby steelworks. This two storey structure has offices on all four walls. This building connects to a longer building, giving the whole complex an “L” shape when viewed from above. This longer building is three storeys, and features offices and paperwork storage rooms. Upstairs there is even an old vintage typewriter, and a few scattered remains of paperwork littering the floors and shelves.