In the latter half of the twentieth century, reaction to large scale building programs and mass-produced heavy prefab systems induced critical discourse and counterproposals to the «closed» box and panel concrete building systems infamously deployed all over Europe. Repetition and raw construction formed the basis of negative press in architecture and criticism from the public. During the 1970s in France and really all over the industrialized world that had been marked by large scale building projects, public policy encouraged architects and industrialists to explore new lightweight construction «open» systems to achieve flexibility and adaptability that were deficient in heavy systems.
A now famous design competition in the early 1970s, «PAN» Programme d'Architecture Nouvelle (program for new architecture) in France offered young practices a chance to come up with alternative dwelling designs that would respond to the need for flexibility. Parisot architects' Gamma building system was designed in this context and to argue for a type of structure and infill adaptability. The steel skeletal structure spanning 7 to 10 meters defines an «open» filigree framework that embraced the topology of its supporting mountainside in Nancy, France. A lightweight megastructure, the scaffolding-like exposed steel (painted black) frame became characteristic of the building kit. Stairs, gangways, and suspended passageways were hung from the structure with dwellings units inserted into the metallic latticework. Floors were composed of steel decking covered with composite timber.
The contrasting light-coloured dwelling volumes were fabricated using a stressed skin steel lacquered composite panel with a polyurethane core. Both light and flexible the panels could be assembled to shape any size dwelling. The Gamma proposal used a pattern of reproducible stacked box units interconnected by the exterior structure’s network. The Project's life span was mired by acoustic, insulation, waterproofing problems and was abandoned relatively quickly after its construction. It was a built prototype that should have been used to evaluate and perfect all its elements before its testing it in the field. The separation of structure and dwelling units remains an interesting concept for offsite efficiency as apartments can be produced independently of the site-built structure without worrying onsite construction challenges.
Gamma building system
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