La Villa de Mademoiselle B
Among the many and varied temporary exhibitions presented by the Cité de l’architecture & du patrimoine, “La Villa de Mademoiselle B” [Miss B’s Villa] has a very special place.
Conceived by the architect Fiona Meadows around a famous doll, fantasy is the spirit that inspires the works of this exhibition. Ten women architects were given free rein to each design a room inside a large mock villa sliced into nine parts.
Fiona and her associates succeed in talking “serious architecture” while bringing a smile to our faces. Adopting a humorous and off-beat approach, they have brought to the Villa de Mademoiselle B a creative team of many talents. A work to be unashamedly enjoyed! A creation to be savoured: multicoloured and full of surprises.
But through play and dream, the curator, who also teaches at a school of architecture, aims above all to highlight the creativity of women architects in the contemporary French context. An ambition that is also a mission of our young ‘Cité’.
François de Mazières
President of the Cité de l’architecture & du patrimoine
It all started with a phone call: in search of spaces in her own image, Mademoiselle B called the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine for assistance in inventing the villa of her dreams…. Ten women architects came forward to design and produce it: rather than opting for the conventional distribution of the space, they imagined nine distinct and habitable worlds for a house/journey that is also an exploded portrait of the doll and its architects.
Barbie is a representation of a person reduced to one sixth of her size. The villa, a 1:6 scale model of a real house, is in the form of nine sections of identical proportions that each develop a singular universe on the basis of a given programme. While the home is a privileged subject for experimentation and reflection for architects, each of the guest designers in this case enjoyed full freedom to question present ways and styles of living, and to propose alternative approaches to conventional domesticity.
The fun started on 8 March, International Women’s Day, by drawing lots to see which architect would get which room.
Dominique Jakob drew the guest room, Urban Cottage ; Anne-Françoise Jumeau and Emmanuelle Marin-Trottin won the most polyvalent space, a garage that would double as an art gallery and loft, Treasure Island ; Isabelle Hérault got a kitchen with dining area, Lunch Box ; Gaëlle Hamonic would be concentrating on the living room, Blablabla Lounge ; Florence Lipsky was to design a multimedia home office, I.T. Lab ; Karine Herman would deploy her talents in the mega dressing-exercise room, Beauty Building Space ; Sophie Delhay was to create a meditation room, Body & Soul Boudoir ; Raphaëlle Hondelatte would be reflecting on the quintessence of intimacy, Secret Garden ; the Archi media girls would be presenting an evolving menagerie of fun and games, Pet Land.
Always ready to explore new territory, Mademoiselle B endeavoured to build bridges between all the artists who interest her and who are interested in her, and between all the subjects that inspire her : fashion, cooking, design, photography, contemporary art, music, etc.
Fiona Meadows
Exhibition curator
The doll is a representation one sixth the size of an actual person.
The villa will therefore be 1/6th the size of an actual house and will be built in nine distinct sections, each one presenting a specific world designed by a woman architect.
1- URBAN COTTAGE (Dominique Jakob)
The pleasure of inviting back some friends, in total autonomy: people and jetsetters you bumped into at a nightclub, at a festival, or in a TV studio; some high-fliers you met at Unesco, a symposium or when on a humanitarian mission to the other side of the world… Or quite simply the pleasure of welcoming your friends for a pyjama party, Star Academy style.
2- TREASURE ISLAND (Anne-Françoise Jumeau and Emmanuelle Marin-Trottin)
The pleasure of plurality: a garage, loft, art gallery. A space that welcomes the car or any other means of transport as a work of art, surrounded by your favourite objects picked up at a car boot sale.
3- LUNCH BOX (Isabel Hérault)
The pleasures of the palate, but also of smell, sight and touch. Bio, molecular or traditional cuisine… not forgetting some delicious snacking. A space for the oven, piano, banqueting table, and table à thé.
4- BLABLABLA LOUNGE (Gaëlle Hamonic)
The pleasure of a fireside chat, of throwing a party, or of sitting down with members of a charity, political or neighbourhood organisation. Sofas, bar, chandeliers, hookahs…
5- I.T. LAB. (Florence Lipsky)
The pleasure of the digital in all its manifestations: work, creative or leisure area. Log onto MSN, chat, play the James Bond girl, make some home movies.
6- BEAUTY BUILDING SPACE (Karine Herman)
The pleasure of making yourself beautiful, of unashamed narcissism, of dressing up and making up, of gym and training. A hall of mirrors, dressing room and stage for the fashion show.
7- BODY & SOUL BOUDOIR (Sophie Delhay)
The pleasure of resting your body and soul: of relaxing in your bath, dreaming in your bed, losing yourself in the pages of a book. Doing some yoga, welcoming your psychologist or his coach, meditating, creating your own altar to the ancestors.
8- SECRET GARDEN (Raphaëlle Hondelatte)
The pleasure of a real secret garden to hide your favourite cuddly toy, write your private diary, keep the family portraits or where you can lock yourself away in the loo (no better place for a good weep).
9- PET LAND (Archi media girls)
(Section produced during workshops for children).
The pleasure of providing a real home for your feathered, furry or scaly friends. A real menagerie offering endless fun and games.
La Villa de Melle B is an exhibition realised by the Cité de l’architecture & du patrimoine / Institut français d’architecture (Ifa) in partnership with Mattel France,
François de Mazières, president of the Cité de l’architecture & du patrimoine, and
Francis Rambert, director of the Ifa
It is coming to the Fondation pour l’Architecture as part of the “Architecture au feminin” programme financed by the Ministry of the Brussels-Capital Region, Planning and Housing Department.
Maurice Culot, president
Curator: Fiona Meadows, Ifa
Graphics : Dorothée Beauvais
General coordination:
Myriam Feuchot, Christine Carboni & Agnès Herpin (Ifa)
Élodie Phalippou
Communication :
Jean-Marie Guinebert, director of communication
and partnerships (Cité)
Claire Le Roy and Guillaume Lebigre, graphic artists (Cité)
The Villa architects:
Dominique Jakob (Urban Cottage)
Anne-Françoise Jumeau and Emmanuelle Marin-Trottin (Treasure Island)
Isabel Hérault (Lunch Box)
Gaëlle Hamonic (Blablabla Lounge)
Florence Lipsky (I.T. Lab)
Karine Herman (Beauty Building Space)
Sophie Delhay (Body and Soul Boudoir)
Raphaëlle Hondelatte (Secret Garden)
Fiona Meadows (Pet Land)
Mona Awad, photographer
This exhibition was realised in partnership with Mattel France, Vitra and Teva; with the assistance of the Self-Image public relations agency and the support of the companies Négatif + Alexance, web & multimedia agency
The place
The exhibition is being presented at the Fondation pour l’Architecture (CIVA) in Ixelles, housed in a former electrical power station dating back to the early XXth century. Founded in 1986, the Fondation pour l’Architecture is an important player in the cultural life of Brussels, though its exhibitions on architecture, town planning and design, from 1850 to the present day, and range of activities including guided visits, children’s workshops, conferences and seminars.
The “Architecture au feminine” programme
-
Monday 7 March 2011: Official presentation of the “Architecture au feminine” programme
Opening of the “La villa de melle B.” exhibition
Press conference and vernissage. -
From 8 March to 30 April 2011: “La villa de melle B.” exhibition
-
Tuesday 22 March 2011 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Round table composed of women associated with the world of architecture
Reflection and debate on the role of women in the world of architecture: How do women live their relationship with housing, the city and space? What is their role in architecture firms? Are the projects entrusted to them gender influenced (schools, crèches, houses, decoration rather than factories)? Why is the profession being so slow to feminise? What to think of the “star system” in architecture (Zaha Hadid, Kazuyo Sejima, etc.). -
From 24 May to 28 August 2011 : “Anna Heringer” exhibition
This young German architect designed a “handmade” school in Bangladesh. The idea was to create a school that would make children want to learn, as well as to produce a work highlighting natural materials that are being increasingly devalued in the country in favour of industrial materials. Anna Heringer is winner of the 2007 Aga Khan award. -
From 18 October to 31 December 2011 :
-
20 portraits of women associated with the world of architecture and construction
by Gaël Turine and Loïc Delvaulx
The 20 portraits will be taken by the two photographers at the place of work (office, construction site, etc.) or in front of a significant completed project. -
A video on the project theme, produced by Stenola Productions
The film-maker plans to interview women in the street and present their opinions on the role of women architects. The video will be shown at the same time as the portrait exhibition.
Educational service
The Fondation pour l’Architecture educational service proposes fun yet educational activities in connection with the exhibition.
Interactive guided visits, creative workshops, holiday courses, birthday parties, etc. are designed for a young public and are also available for families and schools. Guided visits for children and adults can be booked in advance.
Dates, opening hours and admission
From 8 March to 30 April 2011
Admission price: 2 €
From Tuesday to Friday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday from 10.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed on Monday
Place
Fondation pour l’ArchitectureFonds pour l’Architecture Asbl (CIVA)
55 rue de l’Ermitage, 1050 Bruxelles
Tel : 0032/ (0)2.642.24.80 - Fax : 0032/ (0)2.642.24.82
Email : [email protected] - http://www.fondationpourlarchitecture.be
Programme managers: Maurice Culot and Anne-Marie Pirlot
Helena Chambon, stylist
Press & Communication contact: Bertille Amaudric and Jacinthe Gigou
Tel : 0032/ (0)2.642.24.80 - Tel : 0032/ (0)2.642.24.75
Email : [email protected] ; [email protected]
Educational service:
Anne-Catherine Laroche
Tel : 0032/ (0)2.642.24.75
Email : [email protected]
Information and booking of guided visits:
Bertille Amaudric and Jacinthe Gigou
Tel : 0032/ (0)2.642.24.80 - Tel : 0032/ (0)2.642.24.75
Email : [email protected]
With the support of:
Ministry of the Brussels-Capital Region,
Department of Planning and Housing.