Architecture: Jean Prouvé School in Villejuif

Constructor and designer:

Jean Prouvé was a famous French artist who distinguished himself in construction as well as design. Born in Nancy, France in 1901, his use of metalwork, architecture and construction made him stand out, as did the way he utilised materials such as wood and aluminium. One of the many works he designed was the Temporary School of Villejuif. This required an incredible amount of inspiration and knowledge.

Nomadic structures:

Jean Prouvé designed the Temporary School of Villejuif in Val-de-Marne, France, in 1957. The school consisted of three easily-demolished, asymetrical buildings. This idea of building something so short-term was revolutionary. With their various uses, the buildings were a credit to their design. They had a standardised, flexible structure that would previously have been inconceivable. Asymetric parallels meant the buildings were stable and not rickety. "Nomadic" was used as a description because the buildling could be moved at any time. An avant-garde style, Prouvé also used it for the Évian café and the aluminium Centenary Pavilion.

Anticipation:

Jean Prouvé's constructions inspired many current trends and his influence cannot be ignored. Even at the time, his design was recognised as revolutionary. He created prefabricated houses and was anxious to prove their efficacy.