The Château de Labourdonnais is a family home that has welcomed more than three generations of the Wiehe family. Added to 150 years of weathering, the tropical climate and insects, among other factors, had begun to cause a marked deterioration to the house, particularly to the structure and decorative elements.
In 2006, the Board of Directors of the Compagnie Agricole de Labourdonnais entrusted Jacques Wiehe, a professional architect, to the task of restoring the château to its original state. The compagny conceptualizes, alongside the restoration work, a reflection on the cultural significance of the château and the estate. Claude Fauque and Alexander Fruh, respectively a museologist and a renowned French designer, were contacted. Their brief was to present the Château de Labourdonnais as a cultural place following the concept of "a château in a natural setting" where its history, flora, orchards, cuisine and Mauritian expertise would be highlighted.
In 2006, the Board of Directors of the Compagnie Agricole de Labourdonnais entrusted Jacques Wiehe, a professional architect, to the task of restoring the château to its original state. The compagny conceptualizes, alongside the restoration work, a reflection on the cultural significance of the château and the estate. Claude Fauque and Alexander Fruh, respectively a museologist and a renowned French designer, were contacted. Their brief was to present the Château de Labourdonnais as a cultural place following the concept of "a château in a natural setting" where its history, flora, orchards, cuisine and Mauritian expertise would be highlighted.