The circulation of technical knowledge between France and Eastern Europe, 1945-1975

摘要

This is a study of professional relationships in the 1960s between French consulting engineers in the field of architecture and their East European colleagues, focused particularly on the German Democratic Republic and Poland. It is demonstrated, using the cases of Rene Sarger and Stephane du Chateau, that isolated and unofficial exchanges were succeeded by technical exchanges at an institutional level, as sought by the governments concerned. The conditions in France affecting the immigration and professional establishment of qualified persons from Eastern Europe at a time of growing movement by individuals are also examined. An increasing number of international colloquia held in Eastern Europe enabled consulting engineers to spread knowledge of technical processes, counteracting the principles underlying a major emphasis on prefabrication in the countries involved.