The proto-housing: the accommodation of the future

Confinements induced by the Covid-19 crisis have highlighted the importance of living under a quality roof. The proto-habitat answers this need while rethinking housing according to the current stakes.

Challenges of being well housed

The real estate sector is lagging. The housing on offer no longer corresponds to current lifestyles, with 8 million French people wanting to move in 2019, according to a CSA Research study for Cofidis. Moves are on the rise as residents want to have more space, become homeowners, or are forced to do so for professional or personal reasons. However, the working and middle classes do not necessarily have access to quality and comfortable housing. Especially since in most cases, regardless of their value, real estate degrades the environment. This sector was responsible for a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions and accounted for 40% of energy consumption in 2007. Since then, green initiatives have emerged, among them the proto-habitat.

In the spring of 2020, the architectural couple, Frédérique Bachelard and Flavien Menu are designing the habitat of the future as part of their research at the Académie de France in Rome-Villa Médicis. With the help of 30 partners, they have built the first specimen which is stored in the Public Garden of Bordeaux. Their innovation thus aims to respond to social and environmental issues.

The housing of tomorrow 

The proto-housing corresponds to a “social ecology, a mental ecology, and an environmental ecology,” Flavien Menu told France Culture. It is composed of stackable modules that fit together to form pieces. The inhabitant(s) can then modify the size of these rooms, and even change commune while keeping their housing!

It can be assembled and dismantled in 5 days, it adapts to the city and the countryside. The environmental impact of this housing remains minimal because it only contains bio-sourced materials; being labeled “virtuous forest”, the wood for the project comes from forests less than 500 km from the assembly site. The social ecology of the housing, therefore, whose construction costs are 30% lower than for a conventional house.

Soon to be industrialized, this itinerant pavilion could well represent the habitat of tomorrow. Its flexibility and durability correspond to the current expectations highlighted by the pandemic. With the proto-habitat, new housing standards are therefore being introduced.

” In the 1960s, it was thought that the mobility of the future would be the flying car. And today we realize that it’s the bicycle. That’s exactly the kind of philosophy we’re following.”  Flavien Menu for France Culture 

Sources : France Culture ; Chroniques Architecture ; Arc en rêve

Photo Credits: Arc en rêve ; Aqui

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