Architect D.P.L.G, University of Paris 7 and University of Paris 8 graduated in 1984Since 2000, Jean Mas is founding partner of Ateliers 2/3/4/ and since 2005, the planning consultancy Faubourg 2/3/4/. He was Consultant Architect 1991-94 to the French Ministry of Equipment, Transportation and Tourism.
Lecturer at the Geneva School of Architecture 1991-95, he is currently Lecturer at the Val-de-Seine School of Architecture. He has extensive teaching experience especially abroad at the architecture schools of Milan, Bangkok, New York, Seoul and Helsinki.
In his early years, Jean Mas worked in the New York office of Richard Meier with whom he was in association during the 1990’s to undertake several headquarter buildings, for example, Canal+ in Paris. He also worked with Philippe Stack as designer, then later in Japan at the end of 1980’s and, currently with Ateliers 2/3/4, he undertakes projects in France and Vietnam.
Jean Mas has undertaken projects in various sectors: urban development, landscape, housing, industrial, offices, public buildings, hospitals.
Jean Mas works in a group practice, Ateliers 2/3/4/: six architects driven by confirmed ideological convictions; to give their architecture a unity that perhaps would not have been possible, under different conditions … Convictions that are finally united in their need to create an accountable architecture, both functional and educational.
Ateliers 2/3/4/ gives particular attention to new lifestyles that demand a return to simplicity and the basics, and a return to “strong form” as theorized by Martin Steinmann. Ateliers 2/3/4/ and Jean Mas defend the luxury of a “lifestyle” that seeks out “well-being” or “harmony”
Fit for purpose, each project is the opportunity for a study that makes it unique, whether in terms of sustainable development, typology or construction systems. Just like the glassblower, Atelier 2/3/4/ buildings take their form from the inside. Like clothes, their envelopes protect without restricting movement. Like a landscape, they change over time.
Even before the selection of construction materials, Atelier 2/3/4/ favours the only readily available raw material: daylight. Ateliers 2/3/4/ believes “density” is the major component of the city. Their experience on the permeability of buildings allows such an alchemy transforms density into intensity.
PRIZES & AWARDS
Jean Mas was winner of the 1985 Young Architects Album. With F. Roux, he received an award from the American Architects Association (AAA) for their office project in Colombes, the “Housing Innovation” award of General Council of Yvelines, an intermediate habitat project in Guyancourt and several Gold and Silver Pyramids for housing projects in Nanterre and Aubervilliers.
EXHIBITIONS & PUBLICATIONS
Whether on his own, with Mas & Roux or Ateliers 2/3/4/, the projects of Jean Mas have been exhibited on many occasions in France and abroad especially at the IFA, the Pavillon de l’Arsenal, the Venice Biennale, the Architecture Centre and the Galerie de l’Architecture in Paris.
Many projects have been published or referred to in international magazines – Japan (Nikei Architecture, Jalfic), United States (Progressive Architecture, Architectural Record), England (Architects Journal), Germany (Gala, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung), Korea (Space), Italy (Interni). In France, projects have been published in Architecture d’Aujourd’hui, AMC, The Monitor and its Annual, Techniques et Architecture, d’A, Archi CREE, Construction Moderne. Other publications include interviews or press articles in Libération, Le Nouvel Observateur, Les Echos, Le Point, Murs Murs, La Tribune de Genève and the New York Times.
LECTURES & MEDIA
Jean Mas has given many lectures in architecture schools or at conferences in France and abroad. He has also participated in many radio (France Culture with F. Chaslin, Metropolitans, Grand Angle) or television programmes (Antenne 2, TFI with Michel Polac and, recently FR3 for the GAN Tower project at La Défense.