Galerie Jousse Entreprise recreates Jean Maneval's Bubble House concept
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The Bubble House prototype - made primarily from synthetic material - was first presented in France at the Salon Des Arts Ménagers (opens in new tab) (the domestic household arts fair) in 1956, creating a stir in architecture circles for its futuristic shape and innovative construction.
Its author - the architect, urban designer and theorist Jean Maneval (opens in new tab) (1923-1986) - transformed a remarkable theoretical concept into reality, inspired by the work of architects who looked into the typology such as Lionel Schein, a one-time collaborator of Claude Parent (opens in new tab). The house was eventually put into production in collaboration with plastics company Batiplastique in 1968.
Taking things a step further, the design was later used to create an experimental holiday village in Gripp in the Pyrenees. Twenty houses were created for this mountain constellation, swiftly and easily assembled on site thanks to their clever prefabricated system.
The house's six methacrylate reinforced polyester parts (known as its six 'shells') are joined together by waterproof, easily removable seals. The structure sits on a concrete base and comes in green, white and brown.
Thanks to the Galerie Jousse Entreprise (opens in new tab), the Bubble House has been recreated fifty-six years after its original launch, just in time for the International Contemporary Art Fair (opens in new tab) (FIAC) in Paris. Visitors will be able to admire and examine the structure up close at the Jardin des Tuileries (opens in new tab) from 17 to 21 October.
Its author - the architect, urban designer and theorist Jean Maneval (1923-1986) - transformed a remarkable theoretical concept into reality, inspired by the work of architects who looked into the typology such as Lionel Schein, a collaborator of Claude Parent
courtesy of Jousse Entreprise
Jousse Entreprise has installed the house in Paris' Jardin des Tuileries, where it will remain until 21 October.courtesy of Jousse Entreprise
The house's six methacrylate reinforced polyester parts (known as its six 'shells') are joined together by waterproof, easily removable seals
courtesy of Jousse Entreprise
ADDRESS
Fiac hors les Murs
Jardin des Tuileries
Entrée Castiglione
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture Editor at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018) and Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020).
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