“I am only a man of my time who refuses to copy.” ( Jean Prouve) No other comment could summarize Jean Prouve so simply. He was in every sense ‘of the time’, if not ahead of it. Jean grew up surrounded by artists whose concern it was to make art accessible to all. This philosophy would become the framework for Jean evident in his projects and work ethics. Prouve mainly worked on practical and social projects such as public buildings, market halls, schools, mass housing and furniture. He was not interested in monumental architecture and private villas. Jean Prouve was certainly an important figure in the modern movement concerning himself with new materials, new techniques and preferring simplicity and efficiency over ornamentation and tradition. These priorities lead him to create Maison du Peuple, a landmark of modern architecture, which boasted the first contemporary curtain wall. Jean Prouve was born on April 08, 1901 in Paris. The same year, his family moved to Nancy where his father, Victor Prouve and his godfather, Emile Galle, founded the “L'cole de Nancy."(School of Nancy). Jean’s father Victor was a painter, engraver and Emile was an Art Nouveau designer. At the time, “the industrial center of Nancy was the flourishing scene of a revival of craftsmanship in applied arts. This school came together with the intent to make art readily accessible, to forge a relationship between art and industry, and to articulate a link between art and social consciousness. The goal was to make beautiful objects widely available through mass production. “ A sound building must measure up to the location and the style, and the e...
