Around 1967, architect Maurice Silvy, a former collaborator of Jean Prouvé, got hold of part of one of the nomad structures (35 x 10 metres), which he erected at Massy, south of Paris, to house his office.
Late 2008, Eric Touchaleaume was fortunate in purchasing it at the last minute, saving it from certain destruction. The real estate office sale ad describing it read as follows: ‘Business premises pending demolition on large buildable block in cottage area of old Massy’.
The structure was in good condition, having been well cared for. But even so it took a full year of restoration work to strip away all trace of the dropped ceilings and partitions that had been added on over the years… and scrape off many layers of paint to get back to the original blue.