There is an interesting looking exhibition at L’ecole de Beaux Arts in Toulouse about Modern architecture in and around the city of Toulouse.
- Exposition présentée au Palais des Beaux-Arts – Ecole des Beaux-arts de Toulouse
- du 10 juillet au 6 septembre 2009
- Entrée libre du mardi au dimanche de 15 h 20 h
- Vernissage le 9 juillet 2009
It is presented by the Maison d’architecture and L’Ecole de Beaux Arts together. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 3-8PM. The opening event has already happened.
Check out the review, in French on this site.
Toulouse boomed after the 2nd world war. There was a period of decentralization and Toulouse received Airbus as a major industry. The war in Algeria was ending and many French were returning to France. So a few factors together meant that lots of new housing had to be built in Toulouse. New housing built during the 50’s and beyond.
Lots of the newer housing is not very nice but there are shining examples of modernist architecture in Toulouse. I’m very curious to see what we’ll see at the exhibition. I’m going tomorrow.
Popularity: 1% [?]
The exhibition was interesting. Maybe a few too many schematic photos. It was hard to see what you were looking at. More photos of the interiors and exteriors of the houses would have been appreciated.
It was interesting to read about all the causes that led to a construction boom in Toulouse in the 1950’s, similar to that of the world but very pronounced in Toulouse and specific.
Great early photos of Le Mirail. Lots of space age photos of cool houses in the region. I couldn’t help think of the Jetsons. It makes me want to ride my bicycle through some of these neighborhoods to discover some of these homes.
It was also be shown in September at Le Centre Meridional d’architecture. I’m not sure if it is the exact same show or the emphasis will be different, may go just to see.