08/24/2026
What began as a funtional prefabricated panel beacame one of Jean Prouve’s iconic details.
Originally developed as a part of an industrialized building system, the porthole was never simply decorative. It was a practical solution for bringing light into a lightweight, repeatable panel.
That utility eventually became identity — a manufactures component, born out of necessity, turned into one of Prouve’s most recognizable architectural signatures.
The demountable prefab home, originally designed by Prouve in 1944
Photo by Antoine Lippens, Fondation CAB
Porthole façade panels at Imprimerie MAME, Tours, 1952
La Maison Tropicale, 1949
Salle méridienne de l’Observatoire de Paris, 1951
Façade panels for the Pavillon du Centenaire de l’Aluminium, 1954
Photo by Lucien Alff, Institut pour l’Histoire de l’Aluminium (ADAGP)
