1924- Prouve opens up his own workshop in Nancy and begins designing and producing lamps, chandeliers, handrails, and furniture. His style was set apart from the Bauhaus steel furniture of the time, which used steel tubing. Prouve preferred sheet metal, which would be bent, pressed, and then welded. The Legs of his furniture closely resemble the porticos, which he uses in his later buildings.
1930- Jean Prouve developed lightweight tents and huts that could be easily disassembled and transported. The tents consisted of an exposed metal frame from which a canvas was hung. Many of his later constructions had a similar exposed metal framing.
1937- Working with Beaudouin and Lods Architects, Prouve
developed the BLPS House. It was
originally designed to be a vacation house, but after the war was used as
housing for war victims. It was light
enough to be moved a few times per season, but maintained a certain amount of
permanence.
1939 Prouve developed prefabricated barracks for French army. These huts needed to have a certain degree of
permanence so the ability to dis and reassemble was put to the side. The buildings had central porticos, which
consisted of two thin vertical elements joined half way up by a brace and at
the top by a triangular piece, which the ridge beam fit into. This element has developed over time and is
the focus structure for Prouve.
Barrack Section
Barrack Section
Barrack Perspective
1945- After WWII ended Prouve became involved in a camp
programme to rehouse homeless war victims.
Modular portico and external frame huts were constructed.
Demountable House Side Elevation
Demountable House Side Elevation
Demountable House 1 Front Elevation
Demountable House 1 Sketches
Demountable House 2 Perspective
1948- Various Prefab colonial homes were developed for the
African Colonies. Many of the houses had the portico structure which progressed from design to design. Other buildings such as school houses and colleges were designed.
Study of Light Weight Colonial House: Section
Study Sketches
Light Weight Colonial House Side Elevation
Light Weight Colonial House Section
Type A Colonial House Section
Type B Colonial House Perspective 1949
Study of a Tropical House: Section
Brazzaville School House Section
Brazzaville School House Perspective
1949- Maison Tropicale in Niamey, Niger is constructed as a
prototype and provided housing and
offices for the director of the college in Niamey. The façade is made up of three components:
solid panels, panels with portholes, and doors. The interior structure is made up of central porticos.
Niamey North Elevation
Niamey Side Elevation
Niamey Side Section
Exterior and Interior Photos
1950- Maison Tropicales in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
are built and connected together by a small bridge. The smaller building was used for offices for
Studal and the second larger building was the residence of the aluminum
company’s director. Unlike the Niamey house,
which rests on a concrete slab, the Brazzaville buildings are raised and rest
on a beam bearing structure with steal panel floors. The later versions of Maison Tropical also
contain the addition of window panels.
Brazzaville East Elevation
Brazzaville Side Elevation
Brazzaville Front Section
Component of Large Brazzaville House
Brazzaville Houses Together
Brazzaville House Parts Before Construction
Exterior and Interior Photos
Large Brazzaville House In Paris
Interior Porticos