Le Style Guimard postcard no. 10 Hector Guimard in His Workroom at Castel Béranger 1903 Black ink, brush, watercolor on sepia paper 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (8.9 x 13.9 cm) Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, New York 1958-84-1 Photo: Matt Flynn © Smithsonian Institution
A photo album in Cooper Hewitt’s collection documents the construction of a prototype house in Paris, France, that demonstrates the principles of Standard-Construction, a patented modular building system designed by French architect Hector Guimard in the early 20th century. Like many architects of his time, Guimard explored the possibility for standardization and prefabrication to streamline the construction process with the aim of building more efficient and affordable housing in Paris.
