Maison Tropicale
From Archiplanet
| Maison Tropicale | |
| Designer | Jean Prouvé |
| Location | Brazzaville, Congo Republic |
| Date | 1951 |
| Building Type | Small House |
| Construction System | prefabricated aluminum kit of parts |
| Climate | Tropical |
| Context | varies |
| Architectural Style | Modern |
| Street Address | |
| Notes | one of three modular demonstration houses |
Contents |
[edit] Images
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| Photo: SReed99342 (Flickr user) |
[edit] Discussion
| Building Details | |
| Stories | 1, raised above ground on columns. |
| Height | 16 feet (5m) |
| Length | 59 feet (18m) |
| Width | 32 feet (10m) |
These modular houses were designed by Jean Prouvé as a demonstration of his concepts for prefabricated housing. He envisioned that these houses could quickly and inexpensively be created in quantity for French colonists and officials living in Africa. Only three of these aluminum-clad houses were made over several years spanning the late 1940s and early 1950s.
One of the houses is currently on display in Queens, New York, in preparation for its sale at auction. The proceeds will fund a museum in honor to Jean Prouvé. This house was rescued from Brazzaville, Congo Republic in 2000, after falling into a state of disrepair over 49 years. This copy of the house has been restored at a reported cost of $2 million USD.
[edit] Maps
[edit] References
- From Africa to Queens Waterfront, a Modernist Gem for Sale to the Highest Bidder - New York Times, 2007.0516
