I used to lived not far from here, and came often ,for shopping and sightseeing, really nice. I am talking about Poissy, in my memorable dept 78 Yvelines, region of Île de France. I found me an older paper picture and needed to have it in my blog. Therefore, let me tell you on the Villa Savoye of Poissy !!! Hope you enjoy as I
The Villa Savoye is located at 82, rue de Villiers, in Poissy, in the Yvelines dept 78 of the Île de France region of my belle France, It was built from 1928 to 1931 by the architect Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, aka Le Corbusier and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret. Le Corbusier, was an architect, urban planner, decorator, painter, sculptor, French naturalized citizen, born October 6, 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland and died on August 27, 1965 in Roquebrune -Cap-Martin in France , Also, at Place des Capucins see his bronze sculpture of Le Corbusier inaugurated on December 24, 2019.
It was built on a seven hectare field, this construction, baptized Les Heures Claires or the clear hours by its owners and qualified as living machine by its architect, completes the so -called period of the architect’s white villas. Characterized by its purity and harmony, this major building in the history of architecture of the 20C in the field of private individual residence, retains its avant-garde character, This villa was the last in the series of white houses, called purist villas built by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret in Paris or its surroundings, The Villa Savoye measures 9.40 m high, 21.50 m long and 19 m wide, It was occupied by the Nazis and later the Americans during WWII and later abandon for a long period and even in 1958 taken 6 hectares to built a high school lycée Le Corbusier. The State took over in 1964 and important restorations were done in the 1980-1990 period.
It is accessed on the first floor by a soft slope ramp from the entrance or by a spiral staircase. A large part of the first floor is occupied by the terrace which overlooks another ramp which leads to the solarium. The rooms on the floor are arranged around this terrace, starting with the large living room, separated from the terrace with a bay window. The canopy and the straps windows allow panoramic views promoting the observation of the surrounding nature left to its natural state, Behind this is the functional kitchen, with worktops and integrated taps. From this kitchen to the corner, you can access a patio. On the other side of the terrace, we access the rooms: the friend’s room, the son’s room and that of the parents. On the side of the latter is a small living room which overlooks the terrace.
The Savoye family, despite their total absence of preconceived ideas, wanted a functional residence. Le Corbusier created a functional house by illustrating the five points of a new architecture which he had published a year earlier. At the entrance to the field, a small house built on the same principle as the villa. The house of the gardener is the realization of the minimum space required for a family. Indeed, the set measures 33 m2 and has two rooms of 5 m2 each. Three of its walls are blind; Only the facade oriented to the south has a lengthty window, on the same aesthetic principle as the villa.
In 2024 , plans are to start the construction of a museum near the Villa Savoye. On an area of 7,500 m2, it will include exhibition spaces, an auditorium, a media library, a resource center specializing in architecture for students and researchers, an artistic education space for initiation Architecture for children, a cafeteria, a restaurant, a boutique and a bookstore. This new building, whose architect will be appointed after an international competition, will include an underground connection to the villa Savoye. Opening to the public is scheduled for 2027.
The official Villa Savoye of Poissy: https://www.villa-savoye.fr/en
The official Fondation Le Corbusier on the Villa Savoye : https://www.fondationlecorbusier.fr/en/work-architecture/achievements-villa-savoye-and-gardeners-lodge-poissy-france-1928-1931/
The City of Poissy on the Villa Savoye: https://www.ville-poissy.fr/index.php/sport-culture/vie-culturelle/patrimoine-et-sites/la-villa-savoye.html
The local Terres de Seine tourist office on the Villa Savoye : https://www.terres-de-seine.fr/decouvrir/patrimoine/villa-savoye-de-le-corbusier/
The Yvelines dept 78 tourist office on the villa Savoye of Poissy : https://www.destination-yvelines.fr/visites-et-decouvertes/villa-savoye/
There you go folks, another dandy in off the beaten path Poissy, worth the detour indeed. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Villa Savoye of Poissy as I. And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 