Jean Prouvé & LWD Architectural Studio (Lagneau, Weill & Dimitrijevic).

Roof height from the terrace 3.70 m, interior house area 60 m2, with terrace 13.40 m x 12.70 m (facade perimeter) totaling 170 m2 (terrace width can be varied)

Adaptations

To adapt this structure for successive assembly and disassembly required by new uses, certain modifications were necessary.

On-site, the four load-bearing posts were bolted onto concrete blocks arranged around the concrete screed that defined the interior area of the dwelling.

The concrete foundations were replaced by a removable metal base made of HEB beams, resting on metal pads simply placed on the ground and bolted to the structure.

This building therefore lacks buried foundations, but it is perfectly stable and capable of withstanding the most severe weather and natural phenomena thanks to the rigidity and high weight of its monobloc metal base.

Its large platform extending beyond the living area is covered with wooden flooring; open-slatted wooden panels mounted horizontally form the house’s envelope.

An adjustable-height ramp, also made of HEB and wooden decking, provides access to the terrace.

Each of the two gable walls, originally without openings, features two fixed side panels and a double sliding door on a track, the whole covered with cladding of wide tropical wood planks.

All wooden parts use Cameroonian wood species highly resistant to wood-boring insects and fire.

The interior false ceiling made of corrugated aluminum sheet, known as “Ondulite”, which originally equipped the structure, was not reinstalled to provide a higher interior ceiling height.

The loss of natural ventilation was compensated by the installation of two layers of roof trays, which sandwich effective insulation.
This modification is not apparent to the layman.

Restorations

Approximately 30% of the framework elements – damaged by wood-boring insects and humidity – were replaced. The entire structure was treated against wood-boring insects, brushed, and bleached to harmonize with the overall color. The current light shade will develop a beautiful gray patina after a few months.

The four corner posts were reinforced with an internal sleeve and repainted in navy blue according to the original model.

The two gable walls, originally made of concrete blocks on this example, were rebuilt based on a model observed in Cameroon, a variant with wooden gable walls, which was too damaged to be salvaged.

Additional modifications available upon request

At the buyer’s request, it would be possible to reinstall the Ondulite false ceiling to ensure better insulation for the living unit.

In this case, it would also be advisable to clad the two lateral trusses with sky-blue lacquered plywood panels, as can be seen in some original photographs. In situ, some of these houses lacked this cladding on the lateral trusses, in order to optimize ventilation.

Using the structure in a temperate climate would require additional modifications, such as doubling the walls with opaque or glazed sliding panels.