Bernard Saillol - Architect - Bergerac - FRANCE

It's over cafe au lait we have our little chat, time being immaterial and all. At his place the coffee break is an institution; the collection of bowls for savouring it is immense.

As a younger man, he thought his destiny was that of a sports teacher- alas- he still doesn't quite know how to swim. Little matter, "destinies" change, and in the stamping ground of his youth he went on to become the most celebrated and original architect of La Dordogne. From a house built in the form of a heart, to a flying church, he has cracked the code of Perigourdine tradition and gently and carefully superimposed a contemporary architecture in this place, a place that previously had it's head turned defiantly to les vieilles pierres of the past. 

He designs primarily schools and kindergartens, play-schools and creches. Recently, he launched his own publishing company, "Bonbon Edition", and has published several books, one as a collaboration with his grandson, Sandro.

Chez Saillol, the child is always the hero, and Bernard Saillol the author of their heroic adventure.

Bernard Saillol - Architecte - Bergerac

C'est devant un café au lait qu'il reçoit, peu importe le moment du jour ou de la nuit. Ici la collection de bols est immense, la collation une institution.

Plus jeune, il s'était destiné à être professeur de sport, il ne sait toujours pas nager, alors, il restera sur sa terre natale et deviendra l'architecte le plus original de Dordogne. De maison en forme de coeur, en église qui s'envole, il casse les codes de la périgourdine traditionnelle, impose une architecture moderne dans un lieu tourné vers le passé et les vieilles pierres. Il construit principalement des crêches et des écoles pour enfants. Récemment, il crée sa propre maison d'édition "Bonbon Edition" et réalise un livre pour enfants par an avec l'aide de son petit-fils Sandro.

Chez lui l'enfant est roi, ou alors, peut-être que c'est lui, Bernard Saillol, le Roi des enfants.