In search of a work in decline
“…have you not observed, while walking in this city, that among the buildings with which it is populated, some are mute; the others speak; and finally others, who are the rarest, sing? — It is not their destination, nor even their general figure, which animates them to such an extent, or which reduces them to silence. This is due to the talent of their builder, or else to the favor of the Muses…“
Eupalinos or the architect - Paul Valéry
© MAMMA - I.Dahmani - 2019
This is the story of 2 men who came to ask to see the architectural work that a great master of architecture had built, they were allowed to discover the building
Under the effect of a painful emotion, the man shed tears on seeing the state of this building, how could we not take care of it? how could we not see the genius behind this creation? An unconscious massacre
Jean Louis Cohen finds a resonance of this building with the Atlantic and Brazil, the Tit Mellil Rehabilitation Center (1953-1960) inaugurates a new register associating the soaring structures of raw concrete and white walls, towards which Zevaco will develop his subsequent action. Michel Ragon underlines from 1958 the “lyricism” and the “inventive spirit” of these works.
© A+U N°1 - ZEVACO
The Tit Mellil Observation and Rehabilitation Center is photographed as the background of an interesting spectacle, the stones in the foreground are indeed on the scale of the massive piles that support the center amphitheater, the building is interpreted as a stone placed in a desert landscape.
The architects' drawings show this desire to integrate the building into the landscape, Zevaco's overviews are very often accompanied by exterior elements, minerals or plants.
Marc Lacroix's photos often introduce elements of the natural setting such as tree bark, Agaves and cacti, the soil of the country is highlighted and the buildings often occupy only a third of the photograph.
This man visiting this work in decline was only the architect (Jean-François Zevaco) himself….
