Proto-Habitat is a transcript of conversations, visits, essays, photographs, paintings objects, and architectures exploring different cultures of dwelling as well as the associated imageries and means of production. Proto-Habitat is both a theoretical and a practical (built) experiment to explore ways of dwelling that are closer to contemporary lifestyles. The idea is to broaden collective representation to include environmentally responsible modes of existence and prioritizing conditions of habitability over questions of production. The book builds on research initially carried out at the French Academy in Rome - Villa Medici, the exhibition at arc en rêve, Collection Lambert, and Grand Hornu, and the construction of Proto-Habitat (Bordeaux, Chamonix, Clermont Ferrand), protoCAMPO (Rome), and SOLARproto (Almere).

Flavien Menu is an architect whose practice combines research, building, and sustainable develop-ment.