Jacques Rougerie (born 11 July 1945 in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
), is a French architect and oceanographer known for his expertise in underwater habitats. MAD Architects has unveiled its design proposal for the Aquatic Centre for the Paris 2024 Olympics. This sports facility is envisioned as an urban public artwork, showcasing Paris's beauty and aspirations. The proposal is a collaboration between MAD Architects and three French architectural studios: Jacques Rougerie Architecture, Atelier Phileas Architecture, and Apma Architecture.
Biography
Born in 1945 to a
mathematician
A mathematician is someone who uses an extensive knowledge of mathematics in their work, typically to solve mathematical problems. Mathematicians are concerned with numbers, data, quantity, mathematical structure, structure, space, Mathematica ...
mother and a
biogeographer father, companion of
Theodore Monod, Rougerie lived in
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire and officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital city of Yamoussoukro is located in the centre of the country, while its largest List of ci ...
until he turned 11. After moving to France when he was 19, he entered
The École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts in 1964, attending the
Auguste Perret
Auguste Perret (12 February 1874 – 25 February 1954) was a French architect and a pioneer of the architectural use of reinforced concrete. His major works include the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the first Art Deco building in Paris; the C ...
workshop directed by Andre Remondet and Paul Maymont. Inspired by
Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau, (, also , ; 11 June 191025 June 1997) was a French naval officer, oceanographer, filmmaker and author. He co-invented the first successful open-circuit self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA), called the A ...
and first
underwater habitats
Underwater habitats are underwater structures in which people can live for extended periods and carry out most of the basic human functions of a 24-hour day, such as working, resting, eating, attending to personal hygiene, and sleeping. In this ...
, he took classes in Institut Océanographique de Paris in 1970, while studying at
French Institute of Urbanism and
Ecole des Arts et Métiers under the lead of
Jean Prouvé
Jean Prouvé (; 8 April 1901 – 23 March 1984) was a French metal worker, self-taught architect and designer. Le Corbusier designated Prouvé a constructeur, blending architecture and engineering. Prouvé's main achievement was transferring m ...
. In 1972 he got a master's degree in architecture.
Rougerie bases his research on
bionic architecture
Bionic architecture is a contemporary movement that studies the physiological, behavioural, and structural adaptions of biological organisms as a source of inspiration for designing and constructing expressive buildings. These structures are desi ...
,
in accordance with principles of
sustainable development
Sustainable development is an approach to growth and Human development (economics), human development that aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.United Nations General ...
, aiming at emphasizing the role of the sea in the history of humanity.
Rougerie builds underwater habitats and laboratories, aquatic centers, transparent shell vessels, subaquatic museums and conceives underwater living areas.
In 2008, Rougerie was elected at the
Institut de France
The ; ) is a French learned society, grouping five , including the . It was established in 1795 at the direction of the National Convention. Located on the Quai de Conti in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the institute manages approximately ...
-
Académie des Beaux-Arts
The (; ) is a French learned society based in Paris. It is one of the five academies of the . The current president of the academy (2021) is Alain-Charles Perrot, a French architect.
Background
The academy was created in 1816 in Paris as a me ...
and in 2009, he was awarded the
Légion d'Honneur
The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...
. His flagship project ''
SeaOrbiter'', is a futuristic seabed exploration vessel. Rougerie is also involved in floating hotels and universities projects.
Main creations
Museums and aquatic centers
*1981 : Sea Pavilion (Kobe, Japan),
*1989 : Océanopolis I (Brest),
*1991 :
Nausicaá I (Boulogne-sur-Mer),
*2000 : Océanopolis II (Brest),
*2001 : Nausicaá II (Boulogne-sur-Mer),
*2014 : Caribbean Sea Centre (Guadeloupe),
*2014 : Kochi Oceanarium (India),
*2015 : Alexandria underwater archaeological museum (Egypt).
Underwater habitats
*1973-75 : « Village sous la mer », Virgin Islands (USA), conceived to work and live under the sea,
*1977: « Galathée », his first underwater habitat,
*1978-98: « Aquabulles », underwater shelter,
*1981: « Hippocampe », subaquatic habitat,
*1989: « Aqualab », underwater habitat-laboratory, based on the concept of transparent shells vessels,
*1981: « Aquascopes », variable buoyancy trimaran,
*1982 - 2000: « Aquaspace », sail trimaran with a transparent shell.
Other creations
*1991: Institut français d’Informatique (Marne la Vallée),
*1991: Larousse Formula 1 Factory (Signes),
*1994: Environmental research center (Dunkerque),
*2009: Stade aquatique de l'agglomération de Vichy,
*2012:
La Tontouta International Airport
La Tontouta International Airport, also known as Nouméa – La Tontouta International Airport (; ), is the main international airport in New Caledonia, an Overseas France, overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific Ocean, as well as ...
,
*2013:
Piscine Molitor.
Research and projects
* Marine City « City in the Ocean » (United Arab Emirates),
* Embassair private airport terminals (London, New York),
* Malley Star tower on positive energy (Prilly-Lausanne, Switzerland),
* Shell Tower (United Arab Emirates),
* Atlantide Hotelia Complex.
*''Seaspacelab'' : underwater laboratory (USA),
*''Aquaspace III'' : underwater observation trimaran,
*''
SeaOrbiter'' : 58 m high, 31 immersed, ''SeaOrbiter'' is a project aimed at constant oceans observation. Drifting with the sea currents, this platform should enable divers and underwater robots to explore the marine life of the deep, underwater flaws and sunken ruins.
Bibliography
*''Habiter la mer'', (EMOM, 1978);
*''Les Enfants du Capitaine Némo'', (Arthaud, 1985);
*''De Lieues sous les Mers à SeaOrbiter'', (éditions Democratic Book, 2010)
References
External links
Official SiteSeaOrbiterJacques-Rougerie Foundation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rougerie, Jacques
1945 births
Living people
Architects from Paris
Arts et Métiers ParisTech alumni
20th-century French architects
21st-century French architects
Members of the Académie des beaux-arts
Members of the Académie d'architecture
Underwater habitat designers
Knights of the Legion of Honour