Pierre Chareau is often cited as one of France’s first truly modern architects. Educated at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris, Chareau was interested in Cubism and boldly experimented with materials like glass, steel, and light itself. He’s best remembered for his Maison de Verre (House of Glass), France’s first house made entirely of glass and steel. Built in 1932 as an office and home for Dr. Jean Dalsace, the building is notable for its juxtaposition of a transparent, seemingly weightless structure and custom mechanical innovations with traditional décor and furnishings. Chareau also made designs on a smaller scale, his furniture and lighting expressing the same fascination with technology, material, and complex forms.