ly, economically, intellectually.” He realized this could only be possible by using new techniques and new materials. New construction methods allowed not only for the making of things more easily and efficiently but most importantly, for the object itself to be more efficient. This is why Jean concerned himself with being ‘of his time’; because it was the time of the modern movement. Modern architecture, the international style or functionalism as it may be called, made a conscious attempt to assimilate modern technology. Technical progress in the development of materials was evident in the construction of the Crystal Palace by Joseph Paxton in London, 1851. In following years iron, steel, and glass determined the form of many buildings, but irrelevant ornament persisted. It was as late as 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was confronted with a public not ready to accept pure structure as beautiful. Indeed, Prouve belongs to this tradition of the avant-garde entrepreneurs, engineers and builders including: Telford, Paxton, Bogardis, Eiffel, Freussinet and Nervi. As he states, “For me, there is no architecture without structure.” A concern of the modern architects became the revealing of the structure and displaying its beauty. Another idea explored by the modern architects starting with Art Nouveau in Europe was the concept of rhythmic flow of interior space and the eliminating of rigid room divisions. “By 1920 the interrelation of building type with materials and function was widely accepted. The concept of buildings as volumes enclosed by massive materials had given way to a concentration on space supported or enclosed by light, thin materials. The idea of enclosure was de-emphasized, so that structural elements themselves came into focus.” There is no doubt the influence these concepts had on Jean Prouve. We can see ...
