"Off-site but not Off-ground" Exhibition in Marseille
Zuri-Modular © R. Walti
The architectural office Bauart, of which Prof. Emmanuel Rey of the Laboratory of Architecture and Sustainable Technologies (LAST) is a partner, has been invited to contribute to the "Hors-site (mais pas Hors-sol)" exhibition, which runs from September 28 to January 18, 2025 at the Maison de l'Architecture et de la Ville – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur in Marseille. Their contribution focuses, in particular, on the wood modular architecture developed by the office to meet evolving needs in terms of spaces dedicated to teaching.
Off-site construction – an extension of the history of prefabrication – has accompanied some of the great building adventures of the industrial era, from the conquest of the American West to post-war reconstruction. While it has deep historical roots – almost as old as architecture itself – off-site construction today opens up optimistic prospects in response to the major challenges of our time: the ecological emergency, the digital transition, the housing crisis, the changing world of work, and the imperative need for architectural quality.
Looking to the past, the " Hors-site mais pas Hors-sol " exhibition revisits the depth of a history made up of prototypes and bold architectural experimentation, as well as, quite the opposite, mass-produced and rationalized industrial processes. Looking to the future, it examines the relevance of off-site production in contemporary times alongside its new frontiers.
The exhibition delves into the heritage of off-site construction. It explores the ways in which prefabricated elements can be used to create architecture in response to the challenges of a given context. Placed at the heart of a project process that brings together companies, manufacturers, clients, and designers, the architect is invited to make the off-site lexicon his own and tame its immense potential.