MAS Context Fall Talks 2025

Fernand Pouillon: France’s Most Wanted Architect

November 6, 2025 at 6PM

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Film screening of Fernand Pouillon: France’s Most Wanted Architect with director Jean-Marie Montangerand in attendance. The event is organized in partnership with the Alliance Française, Villa Albertine, and as part of the Chicago Architecture Biennial. The screening will take place at the Alliance Française de Chicago (810 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60610. Please enter via 54 West Chicago Avenue).

Contributors

About Fernand Pouillon: France’s Most Wanted Architect

After being imprisoned and mysteriously escaping in the 1960s, Fernand Pouillon, once called the “most wanted architect in France,” seems to have faded into obscurity. Yet over the course of a 50-year long career, he built more than 5 million square meters, mainly in France and Algeria. He frantically traveled tens of thousands of kilometers per week by propeller plane to reach construction sites in Marseille, Paris, Algiers, or in the middle of the desert, until he burned his wings and fell into disfavor with the authorities. Among his many accomplishments, Pouillon built low-income housing projects. Their beauty and quality warrants recovering the story of the life and work of one of the great architects of the past century.

Mas event 2025 fernand pouillon 01

Still from Fernand Pouillon: France’s Most Wanted Architect.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Program starts at 6:30 p.m.

The film is 52 minutes long, in French, with English subtitles and will be followed by a conversation with the director, Jean-Marie Montangerand.

After the program, guests will be welcomed to a reception where they can enjoy a glass of wine and have the opportunity to speak with the director. Non-alcoholic options will be available.

Mas event 2025 fernand pouillon poster

AwardS/ScreeningS

National Premiere BEAUBOURG PARIS
FIFAAC (2 Awards, Special Mention From the Jury) BORDEAUX
AFFR ROTTERDAM
Urban Screens LAUSANNE
25th International Architecture Film Festival ANNECY
DOCVILLE Image de Ville MARSEILLE
CONCRETE Festival LE HAVRE
Barbican Center LONDON

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