@Barbican_City_of_London

A little something from @matsysdesign who explains

A little something from @matsysdesign who explains that this part of a ‘series focusing on populating the human figure in architectural photography.’

The controversial development plan for the Barbica

The controversial development plan for the Barbican border, London Wall West, hasn’t gone away
Link to post in our bio @c20society @barbicanquarteraction #architecture #barbican

Villa Cavrois: Architect Robert Mallet-Stevens. Bu

Villa Cavrois: Architect Robert Mallet-Stevens. Built for the textiles industrialist, Paul Cavrois. He had originally envisaged a far more traditional family home but became a fan of Mallet-Stevens work after discovering him at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris in 1925. The very first use for the Villa was to celebrate the wedding of Genevieve Cavrois - Paul’s daughter on July 5th 1932. The house is a wonderful example of Mallet-Stevens whole concept, both the interior and exterior design entirely embraced Modernist concepts, from its use of space, light and materials such as reinforced concrete, steel to the early adoption of electrification. Telephones in each room allowed occupants to phone each other and make external calls, a single electric clock with display faces across the house. Revolutionary electric washing machines replaced traditional methods and sophisticated systems were put in place by Mallet-Stevens chief lighting designer André Salomon - who sought to create a sense of natural lighting. Sadly war changed everything, the house seized and used as barracks during WW2. The family returned in 1947, when they instructed Pierre Barbe to change the original design to accommodate two apartments for Paul Cavrois’ sons. Unsurprisingly the house eventually economically overwhelmed the family. Interior furnishings were put in an auction in 1987, the house sold to a developer who intended to knock it down and rebuilt on the land, however - by a stroke of luck - they didn’t carry out their plan and the house was abandoned, vandalised and fell into a terrible state. In 1990 it was listed as a historic monument and purchased by the Ministry of Culture and Communication in 2001. It seems unfathomable that it took so long! Le Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN) began an extensive restoration programme, helped by the @iconichouses organisation. Documents featured in articles such as one about the lighting systems published in L'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui in 1932, proved to be incredibly useful in returning the house to its full glory when it opened to the public in 2015. Beautiful interior photo by @jujusurlabutte

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