In Brittany, the subject of second homes is the subject of intense debate, particularly in municipalities which sometimes host nearly 80% of them.
A photographer has surveyed the region to collect images of these "sleeping houses" which he exhibits as part of an architecture festival.
The strong presence of second homes poses particular problems for the accommodation of locals, victims of real estate speculation.
Closed white shutters, a gray sky and an atmosphere that hardly makes you want to.
The pictures taken by Maxime Voidy are the opposite of the postcard of Brittany.
In the photos of this former student of Fine Arts in Lorient, there is no trace of blue sky or hydrangeas coloring the facades of charming stone houses.
In this series called “Sleeping Houses”, the photographer focused on a phenomenon that hits the region hard: second homes.
“I took my first photos in 2018. I was accompanying a friend to Quiberon (Morbihan) in the middle of November.
I was struck by these abandoned landscapes, as if deserted,” recalls Maxime Voidy, who now lives near Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine).
It was at the end of this fall trip that he came up with the idea of making a series.
In less than four years, he has surveyed about twenty Breton municipalities displaying all the same particularity: having at least 50% of second homes, according to the INSEE censuses.
He had no trouble finding them.
Just walk along the coast to observe the phenomenon.
According to the statistics institute, the number of second homes has tripled in Brittany between 1968 and 2018, to exceed the 250,000 mark.
Baptized “Sleeping Houses”, this series of photographs is exhibited as part of the Georges Architecture Festival, which is held in Rennes until October 9.
On Saturday October 1, whoever presents himself as a "visual photographer" will participate in a round table at the Hôtel Pasteur around the stormy theme of second homes.
“I find that there is something poetic in these brothels.
It corresponds to a certain ideal of having a holiday home.
But it is not without problems.
Ghost towns have been created where real estate speculation drives prices up.
The locals can no longer find accommodation on the coast”, regrets the photographer.
A rant ?
“Rather a form of denunciation”.
The question of second homes had largely animated the last campaign of the regional elections.
Several parties then proposed the creation of a status of “Breton resident” in order to fight against real estate speculation.
The subject is not closed.
A fortnight ago, four demonstrations took place simultaneously to demand the classification of Brittany in a tense zone.
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