COINTERAUX, Avis au peuple sur l'économie de son bois, 1806

First edition.
François Cointeraux (1740-1830) was a French inventor and architect. He notably promoted the use of rammed earth for the construction of rural habitats. In this sense he was considered both as a precursor of concrete and as the first defender of alternative construction, using a free and inexhaustible material. Cointeraux's research on the economy of firewood, which is its other recurring theme, has also attracted the attention of specialists and the recent work of Louis Cellauro and Gilbert Richaud has made it possible to demonstrate in particular that its international audience has been considerable. . In this small brochure he proposes a new design of fireplaces allowing better use of heat than traditional open hearth fireplaces.