Maison Planeix

Hidden behind this seemingly simple façade on Boulevard Masséna lies a treasure of architectural ingenuity, the Maison Planeix. In 1924, Antonin Planeix, a sculptor of funerary monuments and a painter, approached Le Corbusier with a dream. He wanted a modern house built on a challenging plot he owned, squeezed between the bustling boulevard and a railway embankment. Le Corbusier, fresh from the success of his Pavillon de l’Esprit Nouveau, accepted the challenge. The Maison Planeix, completed in 1928, is a testament to both the architect’s vision and the client’s active participation in the design. Planeix initially envisioned a ground-floor commercial space where the garage now stands. He later decided against this, opting instead for two rentable studio apartments flanking a central garage. These apartments featured studios on the ground floor and bedrooms tucked away in mezzanine spaces. The owner’s private quarters reside on the first floor, accessible via an external staircase at the rear. The layout comprises an entrance hall, a dining room, two street-facing bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen. A unique feature of the Maison Planeix is the dining room’s direct connection to the garden through a charming footbridge. Ascending to the second floor, we find a spacious two-level workshop complete with a mezzanine, opening onto a large balcony that overlooks the garden. The roof terrace, equipped with distinctive sawtooth skylights, bathes the workshop in natural light. The Maison Planeix remained within the Planeix family until 2013. In 1976, the facades and roof were recognized for their historical significance and designated as a Monument Historique. A restoration project undertaken in 2012 unveiled the original color of the facade’s coating, further enhancing the building’s captivating presence. The Maison Planeix stands as a unique blend of modern architecture and personal expression, showcasing Le Corbusier’s ability to create innovative living spaces even within challenging urban environments.