News that Tate Modern has erected a replica of the world’s first flat-packed home might be of interest if you’re an architect or site manager, but it’s hardly likely to get Joe Public excited.

Where previous installations have included a giant spider, inflatable Pinocchio head, helter skelter and, most recently, a huge crevass, a folded sheet steel and aluminium house designed to address the shortage of housing in 1950s Africa might seem a bit of a letdown.

Still, the prototype was revolutionary for its time. Originally erected in Brazzaville, the Republic of the Congo, in 1951, the Tate house was rediscovered in 2000 in a dilapidated state and riddled with bullet holes. After being dismantled, it was returned to France and restored before making its trip to Britain for the first time.

Architect Jean Prouve designed it for ease of transport to France’s African colonies. All the parts were flat, lightweight and could be easily packed into a cargo plane.

Sadly the project was doomed to failure as the African prototypes proved no cheaper than locally built buildings and their industrial aesthetic turned off expatriate French bureaucrats.

CM has had a sneak preview and while it hasn’t got the wow factor of previous installations, it’s great to see some design and construction displayed in such a popular location. You can visit the building from 5 February to 13 April.

Source

Construction Manager