Fewer than 100 of these otherworldly prefab houses were built in the 1970s. Now, an exhibition in France called Utopie Plastic looks back at these fantastic plastic holiday homes.
Futuro house —
Fewer than 100 of these otherworldly prefab houses were built in the 1970s. Now, an exhibition in France called Utopie Plastic looks back at these fantastic plastic holiday homes.
Baraja Touchaleaume
The Futuro House was designed to serve as a ski lodge, and was actually quite well insulated. The house was also fitted with an electronic heating system, enabling users to warm it quickly and easily.
Futuro house —
The Futuro House was designed to serve as a ski lodge, and was actually quite well insulated. The house was also fitted with an electronic heating system, enabling users to warm it quickly and easily.
Baraja Touchaleaume
In 1971 Finland put the Futuro House on a stamp, in a series honoring the country's plastics industry.
Futuro house —
In 1971 Finland put the Futuro House on a stamp, in a series honoring the country's plastics industry.
Baraja Touchaleaume
The official title of Jean Maneval's Bubble House was the Maison Bulle Six Coques or the Bubble House of Six Shells, which refers to the number of outer pieces used to make the dwelling.
Bubble House —
The official title of Jean Maneval's Bubble House was the Maison Bulle Six Coques or the Bubble House of Six Shells, which refers to the number of outer pieces used to make the dwelling.
Baraja Touchaleaume
The Bubble House came in three different colours: white, green and brown. Customers were supposed to pick a shade to match their site's natural background.
Bubble House —
The Bubble House came in three different colours: white, green and brown. Customers were supposed to pick a shade to match their site's natural background.
Baraja Touchaleaume
The designer of the Hexacube, architect Georges Candilis, worked closely with Le Corbusier, serving as project architect on Le Corbusier's famous Unité d'Habitation residential block in Marseille.
Hexacube —
The designer of the Hexacube, architect Georges Candilis, worked closely with Le Corbusier, serving as project architect on Le Corbusier's famous Unité d'Habitation residential block in Marseille.
Courtesy Sparkling Presse
Candilis created the Hexacube in conjunction with fellow architect Anja Blomstedt. The building was made to be put together by just two or three people, and could be extended easily, using additional pieces.
Hexacube —
Candilis created the Hexacube in conjunction with fellow architect Anja Blomstedt. The building was made to be put together by just two or three people, and could be extended easily, using additional pieces.
Courtesy Sparkling Presse
The Frich de l'Escalette sculpture and architecture park is situated in a disused lead mill. Eric Touchaleaume bought the site in 2011, and staged his first exhibition, of a rare Jean Prouvé he had found in Cameroon, in 2016
The Frich de l'Escalette sculpture and architecture park is situated in a disused lead mill. Eric Touchaleaume bought the site in 2011, and staged his first exhibition, of a rare Jean Prouvé he had found in Cameroon, in 2016
Courtesy Sparkling Presse
The exhibition also features period-correct furniture and furnishings, including inflatable chairs.
The exhibition also features period-correct furniture and furnishings, including inflatable chairs.
Baraja Touchaleaume
Curator Eric Touchaleaume began his career in flea markets, and took an interest in Prouvé after buying 600 of the architect's chairs from a French university.
Curator Eric Touchaleaume began his career in flea markets, and took an interest in Prouvé after buying 600 of the architect's chairs from a French university.
Courtesy Sparkling Presse
In June 2007 a rare, tropical Jean Prouvé house, bought and restored by Touchaleaume, sold at Chritie's in New York for $4,968,000. The buyer was the New York hotelier Andre Balazs.
In June 2007 a rare, tropical Jean Prouvé house, bought and restored by Touchaleaume, sold at Chritie's in New York for $4,968,000. The buyer was the New York hotelier Andre Balazs.
Baraja Touchaleaume