Museumotel, Historical motel in Raon-l'Étape, France
The Museumotel comprises nine bubble-shaped rooms made from sprayed concrete on metal frames, arranged in an arc on an island in the La Plaine river. The structure sits on roughly 4100 square meters of landscaped grounds where visitors can explore this experimental architectural approach.
Architect Pascal Häusermann designed this structure in 1967 for Maurice Thierry, owner of Relais Lorraine-Alsace, who sought to expand his existing lodging business. The project emerged from a desire to create an innovative accommodation that departed from conventional motel designs.
The rooms display furniture by 1960s designers such as Charles Eames and Verner Panton, reflecting the post-war design movement. Visitors can experience these pieces firsthand while moving through the spaces and see how this approach shaped daily living.
The grounds are easily accessible on foot and offer an open, park-like setting for exploration. Visitors should allow time to appreciate the unusual forms and structural details of the buildings from different angles.
Each module is made from polyurethane foam protected by reinforced polyester, creating spaces without right angles and featuring fully curved walls throughout. This unconventional construction was a bold choice for residential lodging in the 1960s.
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