Jean Prouvé's Champerret Bus Shelter Restored in Paris

The last work of Jean Prouvé (1901–1984), the marquise of the Champerret bus station in Paris, reopened to the public on July 4 after five years of restoration. The project was led by Île-de-France Mobilités (formerly RATP) and the firm Explorations Architecture. The structure, built in 1985, is a modular system of steel columns and reproducible shells. The restoration preserved most of the original elements while adapting the shelter to modern needs such as larger buses and the arrival of the tramway. Prouvé's philosophy emphasized social architecture and adaptability; his granddaughter Delphine Drouin-Prouvé noted that he aimed to produce accessible works serving real life. The project also created molds for future restorations of similar Prouvé bus shelters at Château de Vincennes and Pont de Sèvres. Prouvé was a pioneer of modern architecture, known for combining design, industrial production, and social purpose, with works like the Maison du Peuple in Clichy (1936) and the Maison des sinistrés in Nancy (1944).