Mainon Bulle, the Bubble House by Jean-Benjamin Maneval, 1963

Jean-Benjamin Maneval, Maison Bulle (Bubble House) 1968 model; photo © Riccardo Bianchini/Inexhibit, 2015

“Maison Bulle” – the history of the Bubble House by Jean-Benjamin Maneval – 1963

During an exhibition in Milan, I had the rare opportunity to experience a restored version of the iconic Maison Bulle, or Bubble House, designed by French architect Jean-Benjamin Maneval in the early 1960s. For this event, the house served as a temporary pavilion showcasing works by Andy Warhol. Until then, I had only encountered Maneval’s creation in scattered references within architectural history books. Intrigued by its unusual yet captivating design, I decided to delve deeper into its story.

A Glimpse into the Future: Plastic Architecture of the Mid-20th Century
The Maison Bulle stands out as one of the most successful examples of what can be termed “futuristic plastic houses,” a movement that gained traction between the 1950s and early 1970s. This architectural trend was inspired by the experimental ideas of Austrian-American architect Frederick John Kiesler, particularly his unbuilt 1950 Endless House, originally envisioned in concrete.

Following Kiesler’s lead, a wave of designers across France, Britain, and Scandinavia explored the potential of synthetic materials to create affordable, modular, and mobile homes. Notable contributors included: Ionel Schein (Plastic House, 1956), Arthur Quarmby (Emergency Mass Housing Units, 1962), Jean-Benjamin Maneval (Maison Bulle, 1963), Matti Suuronen (Futuro House, 1968), and Pascal Häusermann (Domobiles, 1971)

These architects were driven by a utopian vision: to produce low-cost, compact, industrially manufactured modular dwellings made of synthetic materials that harmonized with their surroundings and reflected the aesthetics of the space age.

Maneval’s Bubble House: Design, Production, and Legacy
Officially named Bulle Six Coques, or Six-Shell Bubble, the house entered mass production in 1968. It was available in three colors—white, green, and brown—chosen to help the structure blend into its surroundings. The design consisted of six identical polyester shells, each weighing around 460 pounds, which were fastened to a hexagonal steel frame and topped with a polyester dome. The windows were crafted from a single curved piece of methacrylate. Altogether, the house weighed approximately 3,300 pounds, could be transported by truck, and assembled on-site within a few days. A small concrete foundation provided structural support.

Inside, the Bubble House offered 390 square feet of largely open space. It included an entrance area, two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom—the only area enclosed by thin internal walls. The modular nature of the design allowed multiple units to be connected, forming larger clusters of living spaces.

Jean-Benjamin Maneval, Maison Bulle (Bubble House), 1968 model; photos © Riccardo Bianchini/Inexhibit, 2015

One of the most notable applications of Maneval’s Bubble House was a residential development near the village of Gripp in the Haute-Pyrénées region of France. In 1968, twenty units were installed to create a tourist resort. These homes remained in use until 1998, and some are still visible today. Despite its initial success, production of the Bubble House came to an end in 1970.