Bringing La Buvette d'Evian back to life

In a new book, EPFL researchers trace the history of La Buvette d'Evian - a former lakeside refreshment area that is also an icon of modern architecture. With some light renovation work, La Buvette could reinvigorate the entire region. The book launch will take place on 6 December at EPFL. For over 40 years, tourists and people with kidney ailments came to La Buvette d'Evian for the healing properties of the region's water. This lakeside refreshment area - which measures 74 meters long and 14 meters wide - was designed by Jean Prouvé, a leading figure of 20th century civil engineering, as well as fellow civil engineer Serge Ketoff and French architect Maurice Novarina. Construction work began in 1955, and the pavilion-like building was inaugurated in 1957. La Buvette is considered a masterpiece of modern architecture and has been listed as a French cultural heritage site. Nowadays, however, La Buvette has been largely forgotten - apart from a clumsy attempt at updating it - and abandoned.