Jean Prouvé (1901–1984) was a French constructor, engineer, and designer who pioneered prefabricated architecture and lightweight metal structures. Though he never held a formal architecture degree, his influence on 20th-century building technology was immense. The catalogue holds 2 of his works in Lausanne and Paris.
The Caserne de Pompiers Masséna (fire station) in Paris is an industrial Modernist structure reflecting his approach to building as manufacturing. The Administration Communale de Chauderon in Lausanne is a Brutalist civic building. Prouvé's contribution lies in treating architecture as a problem of construction — every joint, hinge, and panel was designed for fabrication and assembly, anticipating today's modular building methods.
