Construction of the Three Cupolas 1968 (≈ 1968)
First house, in collaboration with Jean Degottex.
1970
Completion of *Contrepoint*
Completion of *Contrepoint* 1970 (≈ 1970)
House with octagonal terrace exposed to the Museum of Modern Art.
1972
Construction of *The Geode*
Construction of *The Geode* 1972 (≈ 1972)
Polyhedral structure on three levels.
1982
Construction of Hermitage*
Construction of Hermitage* 1982 (≈ 1982)
Last house, for personal use.
2013
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 2013 (≈ 2013)
Initial protection of one of the four houses.
2014
Classification of the other three houses
Classification of the other three houses 2014 (≈ 2014)
Total site protection and landscaping.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
"An experimental house in its entirety, including the landscaping and the works of Jean Degottex integrated into the ensemble (see Box A 105, cf. plan annexed to the decree ) : inscription by order of 30 September 2013 - In total, three of the four experimental houses, namely the houses "The Three Cupolas", "The Geode", and "Hermitage", with the wooded plots on which they are located and the landscaped arrangements, and also, for the house "The Three Cupolas", the integrations of Jean Degottex, as shown in pink on the plan annexed to the decree (cad. A 106 to 108): by order of 17 October 2014"
Key figures
Jean Daladier - Self-taught architect
Creator of the four experimental houses.
Jean Degottex - Plastic artist
Has collaborated with the Three Cupolas and integrated works.
Origin and history
The experimental houses of Jean Daladier are a set of four houses built between 1968 and 1982 in an avant-garde style, reflecting the architectural experimentation of the Thirty Glories. Located in Saint-Julien-du-Sault (Yonne), in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, they form the place called Bois des Sèves, each located in a clearing arranged in a landscaped garden. These prototypes, conceived as economical dwellings, incorporate works by artist Jean Degottex, especially in walls and outdoor spaces.
The first house, Les Trois Coupoles (1968), is a collaboration between Daladier and Degottex, followed by Contrepoint (1970), a two-storey structure surmounted by an octagonal terrace with triangular windows. The Geode (1972) is distinguished by its polyhedral shape on three levels, while L These achievements, originally intended for sale, did not find takers and were almost demolished before their protection in 2013-2014.
Ranked historic monuments in 2014, these houses illustrate the architectural audacity of the time, combining constructive innovation, integrated art and harmony with the landscape. In 2021, only Contrepoint was restored and inhabited; the other three, degraded, remain for sale. Their preservation bears witness to the heritage importance of these unique experiences, now threatened by abandonment and their location outside the building area.
Jean Daladier, self-taught architect, acquired this wooded land in the 1960s to test innovative concepts, after having participated in the renovation of the unsanitary islets in Paris. The presentation of a partial replica of the Trois Coupoles at a Degottex exhibition at the Musée d'Art moderne in Paris in 1970 contributed to their reputation. Despite their historical value, their isolation and present state pose challenges to their preservation.
