Villa Savoye, Poissy
Modernist Le Corbusier-designed villa situated on the outskirts of Paris
Architect: Le Corbusier
Year Built: 1931

This magnificent Le Corbusier-designed villa is incongruously situated in what is now a sleepy, somewhat down-at-heel suburb about an hour and a half north of Paris.

The villa is tucked away from the main road in the middle of a wooded plot of land. Looks-wise, it’s quintessential LeCorbusier with its white reinforced concrete exterior, extensive glazing and portico of flanking columns, which supports the upper levels of the building. The villa is effectively in the middle of a field so it can be viewed from all angles from the outside: each of its four aspects is a different (and interesting) arrangement of lines and shapes.

The interior layout needs to be experienced in person to be properly appreciated. The four columns in the entrance hall seemingly direct you up a continuous ramp. This wide ramp, which can be seen from almost everywhere in the house, continues up to the first floor living area and salon before continuing externally from the first floor roof terrace up to the second floor solarium. Wandering through the villa up the ramp is curiously reminiscent of navigating a very beautiful multi-storey carpark.