Patent of the Fillod system 1928 (≈ 1928)
Invention of the "all steel" process for houses.
5 septembre 2012
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 5 septembre 2012 (≈ 2012)
Registration of the entire house.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
2e quart XXe siècle
Construction period
Construction period 2e quart XXe siècle (≈ 2037)
Realization of the house in the Trait.
Heritage classified
The entire metal house, excluding the extension (box AI 403): inscription by order of 5 September 2012
Key figures
Ferdinand Fillod - Engineer and inventor
Creator of the "all steel" patent in 1928.
Origin and history
The metal house Fillod, located at the Trait in Normandy, is a unique testimony of architectural innovation of the 2nd quarter of the 20th century. It is based on the patent of the "all steel" system, developed in 1928 by engineer Ferdinand Fillod. This revolutionary process used exclusively bent plate, without bolting, offering a resolutely modern aesthetic for the time. The construction reflected joint research by industrialists, architects and engineers to industrialize the production of metal housing.
This monument, classified in total (excluding extension) by decree of 5 September 2012, illustrates the desire to standardize construction with durable materials and standard techniques. Although later changes may have altered certain aspects, the Trait house retains the essential features of the Fillod system, marking a turning point in the history of prefabricated housing in France.
The location at 106 rue du Commander-Guilbaud, in the department of the Seine-Maritime, underlines its anchoring in a territory marked by the steel industry. This industrial heritage, now protected, bears witness to the technical audacity of its time and the collaboration between different trades to rethink the habitat. Its registration as a Historic Monument in 2012 is a reflection of its heritage value, both architecturally and technologically.
The accuracy of its location, estimated at 8/10, makes it possible to clearly identify this rare specimen among the serial achievements of the Fillod system. The exact address, confirmed by the Merimée bases and GPS coordinates, facilitates its identification in the urban landscape of the Trait, a commune linked to Norman industrial history.
The context of its creation is part of a period of technological change, where steel became a flagship material for rapid and economical construction. The Fillod House thus embodies a response to post-First World War housing needs, while foreshadowing contemporary modular construction methods.
Finally, its status as a Historical Monument and its conservation underline the importance of preserving these architectural experiments, often unknown but essential to understand the evolution of construction techniques in the twentieth century. It remains an emblematic example of the alliance between heavy industry and housing innovation in Normandy.