Auguste Perret
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Auguste Perret (February 12, 1874 - February 25, 1954) was a French architect and a leader and specialist in concrete construction. In 2005 his post-WWII reconstruction of Le Havre was declared by UNESCO one of the World Heritage Sites.
He was born in Ixelles, Belgium. He was the brother of the architect Gustave Perret.
He worked on a new interpretation of the neo-classical style. He continued to carry the banner of nineteenth century rationalism after Viollet-le-Duc. His efforts to utilize historical typologies executed in new materials were largely eclipsed by the younger media-savvy architect Le Corbusier and his ilk. Perret is famous for several apartment buildings which depart from the typical Parisian flat, and a reinforced concrete cathedral in Le Raincy, France, Église Notre-Dame du Raincy (1922-1923). He helped with the reconstruction of the French city of Le Havre after more than 80,000 inhabitants of that city were left homeless following World War II.
Perret is a direct link to the generation that followed him. Le Corbusier worked in his studio, eventually becoming an industry associate and a competitor.
