André Bloc is a French engineer, architect, sculptor, and editor known for his “sculpture-habitacles” or “cockpits,” structures that can be inhabited but are essentially sculptural in their forms. Bloc used the garden of his house studio in Meudon for his experiments. His first attempt at building such a structure occurred in 1962; however, the plaster building could not survive harsh weather conditions. Then, Bloc constructed a new one with bricks painted white, forming arches and vaults. Also built in 1962, the third sculpture-habitacle was a red brick tower with whimsical geometry, rising out of his garden. Villa André Bloc has been classified as a historical monument since 1983.
Villa André Bloc contains two brickworks by Bloc that are inhabitable spaces with sculptural forms.
Following the accidental death of Bloc, a French gallerist named Natalie Seroussi bought Villa André Bloc, and today, she inhabits the place. Since 2008, Seroussi has opened the doors of the Villa to the public through annual sculpture exhibitions. The exhibitions have involved the works of such contemporary artists as Ernesto Neto, Malachi Farrell, Michel François, Mathieu Briand, Michel François, Tobias Putrith, Phil Niblock, Didier Faustino and Bruno Gironcoli.
