Jean Prouvé is one of the pioneers of prefabricated houses. His construction philosophy is based on economic and efficient pragmatism, responding to the technological changes of the first mechanical age. Since the 1930s, Prouvé has begun to explore "prefabricated houses", whether it is detachable barracks designed for the military during the war, emergency shelters for refugees, or public buildings with assembled houses for civilians after World War II. Born into an artistic family in Nancy, the birthplace of the Art Nouveau movement in France, Prouvé is a key figure in transferring mechanical mass production to the field of practical architecture. These prefabricated house components made of metal can often be assembled by a small construction team in one day, which provided an avant-garde solution to the post-war housing crisis.
Since the 1930s, Prouvé has begun to explore "prefabricated houses" that can be quickly assembled on site after being transported to the destination. The cleverly designed metal components facilitate the disassembly, movement and modification of the building. Steel, as a relatively rare material, is reserved for making folded metal plate frames, in which standardized wooden boards are inserted. The biggest design feature is the axial portal frame structure that bears the central load of the house. This building system was patented in 1939.