Croix holds a secret. That secret is the Maison Delcourt. This house is not just any building. It is a testament to architectural brilliance. It is a hidden masterpiece by Richard Neutra.
The Maison Delcourt is located in Croix near Lille. Croix is also home to Villa Cavrois. Richard Neutra designed the Maison Delcourt in 1968. This was just two years before he died. Marcel Delcourt, a French industrialist, commissioned the house.
Neutra mainly worked in California. He brought the International Style to the US. However, he spent his final creative years in Europe. The Maison Delcourt is his only residence in France.
Think of a “house in the meadow”. The Maison Delcourt embodies this idea. It sits in the center of a wooded park. This park is in a Lille suburb. The house has six bedrooms. It spans two levels.
Neutra’s signature style is evident. The house features a post-and-beam structure. It has open-plan horizontal spaces. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls frame these spaces. This design blurs the line between indoors and outdoors. It gives the illusion that interior spaces extend onto the lawn.
Many original furnishings remain. Neutra and his partner Bruno Honegger designed them. His architect son Dion Neutra also helped. The staircase appears to float. Fireplaces use bricks from nearby Hem. Sandstone floors come from Artois.
The Maison Delcourt has had only two owners. It was completed in 1968. In July 2000, the building and its land became a historic monument. This status protects its architectural value.
Richard Klein is an expert on the house. He is an architect, researcher and professor. He presented the Maison Delcourt in exhibitions.
Imagine living here. Sunlight streams through the glass walls. Nature surrounds you. The open design promotes a sense of freedom. The Maison Delcourt is more than a house. It is a work of art. It blends architecture and nature. It embodies Neutra’s vision of modern living. The Maison Delcourt stands as a unique treasure. It represents Neutra’s final masterpiece. This building is his only creation in France.