The Building Known as Ty Kodak

In the quaint town of Quimper, your eyes quickly get used to spotting medieval, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture—almost every building seems to tell an ancient story. Yet be careful not to assume that everything here is centuries old. The building known as Ty Kodak, right in front of you, proves otherwise. Built in 1933, it’s one of the rare examples of Art Deco architecture in Quimper. Its clean lines and distinctive “ocean liner” style were the work of Olivier Mordrelle, a Parisian architect and politician from the 20th century. Originally, the building housed a shop owned by the son of Joseph Villard. The name “Ty Kodak”—with “Ty” meaning “house” in Breton—hints at its photographic past. The Villards were a renowned family of photographers in Quimper, and for nearly a hundred years, they captured life throughout the Finistère region, turning their images into postcards. In total, they produced around 4,000 different designs. Though the façade has lost a bit of its original character over time, the elegant blue ceramic bands still stand out. Today, this unique building is recognized for its historical value and has been listed as a historical monument since 2006.