“Housing; Substance of Our Cities” is a review of housing in Europe since 1900 and, with the example of 100 realised projects, demonstrates the themes which have fed the urban thought process in the 20th century.
Period documents, plans, sections, photos and videos are all used to reconstruct the history of European housing within a political, social and economic context.
Nasrine Seraji, architect and guest curator for this exhibition has put together a selection of remarkable projects, illustrating the main periods of housing architecture. This is more than a simple walk through an exhibition; it is an insight into the constitution of a city".
With this in mind, visitors are invited to see for themselves "how since the first building by Auguste Perret in 1903 in Paris reinforced concrete has become a key ingredient in the construction of collective housing schemes; how housing units and large housing schemes were the norm during the post-war years when the goal was not only to house residents but to give them hope for a new life; how in the 1980’s and 90’s, Jean Nouvel woke our spirits with Nemausus; and how Nicolas Grimshaw proved that the high tech look can be a good solution to house London yuppies.”
The exhibition and its accompanying publication a critical view of recent housing history in order to enrich the debate on housing which reflects our desires, our ability to change society and expresses our hope in changing the mundane to a celebration of ordinary life". Matthieu Poitevin, architect and guest exhibition designer, created an monumental snake in the Pavillon de l’Arsenal which is 65 metres long and covered with a skin of 3,500 scales.
“Kaa entices visitors into this extraordinary chronology, guides them so they won’t lose their way, drawing them in, vertiginously, languorously. He traces a meandering, almost sensual path through the exhibition".
With this in mind, visitors are invited to see for themselves "how since the first building by Auguste Perret in 1903 in Paris reinforced concrete has become a key ingredient in the construction of collective housing schemes; how housing units and large housing schemes were the norm during the post-war years when the goal was not only to house residents but to give them hope for a new life; how in the 1980’s and 90’s, Jean Nouvel woke our spirits with Nemausus; and how Nicolas Grimshaw proved that the high tech look can be a good solution to house London yuppies.”
The exhibition and its accompanying publication a critical view of recent housing history in order to enrich the debate on housing which reflects our desires, our ability to change society and expresses our hope in changing the mundane to a celebration of ordinary life". Matthieu Poitevin, architect and guest exhibition designer, created an monumental snake in the Pavillon de l’Arsenal which is 65 metres long and covered with a skin of 3,500 scales.
“Kaa entices visitors into this extraordinary chronology, guides them so they won’t lose their way, drawing them in, vertiginously, languorously. He traces a meandering, almost sensual path through the exhibition".
