They live in the countryside, off the beaten path. Their personal convictions have led them to live differently, far from big cities. Thus, they have improvised as builders in complete freedom, alone, with family, or in groups. They desire a simple and healthy habitat, life in the open air, in the trees, on the water, or underground. Their "wild" constructions are full of charm and creativity, offering other ways of thinking and living. The design of their autonomous habitat is part of a comprehensive process since it meets the needs of daily life: feeding, heating, clothing, moving while respecting the environment as much as possible. Strong in their convictions, full of energy and new ideas, their commitment goes through action. Respecting their convictions implies transgressing the norm; their way of being citizens and responsible is to follow alternative paths of self-construction and often to question the functioning of our society.
Original and rebellious, their habitat resembles them. They are eager to share their experiences, and thanks to these initially isolated initiatives, networks are created, innovative projects around housing emerge in rural areas. Their choices prompt us to question our current lifestyles and remind us that it is possible to live differently in the countryside. Through word of mouth, we set out to meet them across France to discover and share their everyday life as atypical citizen-inhabitants. By mixing snapshots and staged scenes where the protagonists play a character, the photographs transcend purely documentary content. In the same way, the text transforms reality to describe an encounter with a fictional "inhabitant people" with fantastic customs. These poetic portraits, blending reality and imagination, invite the viewer to look anew at housing.
Irène Brunet
The book Habitants hatypiques has been edited at Images en Manoeuvres Editions in 2010, sold out you can still order it here