Standardized Rural House
Medium
architecture
Classification
architecture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Madame Hector Guimard
Accession Number
1956-78-1-64
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Hector Guimard, the renowned French architect (1867–1942) best known for his sinuous Art Nouveau designs like the iconic Paris Métro entrances, created *Standardized Rural House* in 1920. This architectural model represents a practical pivot amid post-World War I reconstruction efforts in France, where affordable housing was urgently needed in rural areas devastated by conflict. Guimard's design emphasized standardization and efficiency, moving away from his earlier organic flourishes toward functional modernism. As a model preserved in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection—graciou...