Jean Prouvé

metal, aluminium and wood

Private collection, France

Peter Sulzer, Jean Prouvé, Oeuvre complète, Volume 3: 1944-1954, Basel, 2005, pp. 46-49
Galerie Patrick Seguin, Jean Prouvé, Maison démontable 6x6, Paris, 2013,
Fondation Luma, Jean Prouvé, Architecte des jours meilleurs, Paris, 2017, pp. 43-53

Condition consistent with age and external use. The house stands on a wooden base, not illustrated in the catalogue. Three sides of this wooden base have been recently re-placed and one side is original. The underlying foundational beams and joists of the house are considerably weakened and would need the care of a professional. Three beams form the foundation of the house. One is original and is weakened, two have been replaced at a later stage. Most of the joists of the foundations are weakened. There is a metal rail all around the floor of the house (not visible on the catalogue illustration). On one side of the house, 3 meters of this metal rail is missing and has been currently replaced by a wooden element. The wooden floor of the house has been recently sanded. The wooden floorboards are worn and weakened throughout, especially at the ends. Some floorboards present with missing parts. Some holes have been drilled on the floorboards at a later date (concentrated along the walls, they were drilled to insert some ducts). Missing floorboards in the centre of the floor (there used to be a later chimney on in the middle of the house), currently re-placed by new wooden elements on approximately 45 x 33 cm. Another area with missing floorboards at one corner of the floor, currently re-placed by new wooden elements on approximately 83 x 29 cm. The original floorboards around this corner are considerably weakened, and a few are particularly fragile. At another corner, the floorboards have been drilled on approximately 19 x 5 cm. A wooden wall panel is missing, where the present owner replaced it with a later door. All of the wooden elements present with scratches, dents, chips and woodworm holes, consistent with age and use. The metal structure of the house and roof has been completely sanded and re-finished recently and now appears black. This operation happened after the catalogue illustration was shot – in the catalogue illustration, the metal structure is white. There is some oxidation, scratches and dents throughout the metal structure and some elements are bent, all consistent with age and use. A chimney was previously installed at the centre of the house. The flue tube had to be inserted at the junction of the metal structures of the roof and some metal elements had to be bent to do so. The roof is in wood. Because of the external use of the house for many years, we advise prospective buyers to consider having a company specialized in wood-boring insects treatment to inspect the house. Sotheby's would be happy to provide the contact information of a professional who could handle the isntallation of the house. Should you need further information or photographs, please contact the department.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"The conception of any object imply a constructive idea rigorously achievable."
Jean Prouvé
After the Liberation, the Minister of Reconstruction, Raoul Dautry, seduced by the Ateliers Prouvé commissioned houses to relocate the victims of Lorraine and Franche-Comté.
In these areas where bombing was intense housing that could be produced quickly was needed.
Jean Prouvé designed houses that could be assembled and dismantled quickly using prefabricated elements.
This type of housing is a true architectural performance.
 
The house that we are presenting is one of several installed in 1945 in a small village of the department of Doubs.
Most of them were destroyed a few months later to make room for post-war reconstruction plans.

This house is one of the few survivors as it was installed in a remote area and was preserved.Beyond the elegance of its form, this house shows the genius of its creator and responds to a particular solution in an important historical context.
The house is presented in its original state and is one of Jean Prouvé's manifest constructions.