Miestchaninoff House-Studio

Le Corbusier & Pierre Jeanneret architects
1925
Boulogne-Billancourt (92)

4 950 000 €

HISTORIC MONUMENT

241 m²
4 Bedrooms
3 bathrooms
Independent Studio
Terraces: 100 m²
Garden: 220 m²

Description

The Sculptor Oscar Miestchaninoff’s Home-Studio in Boulogne-Billancourt

EXCEPTIONAL – This corner villa is part of a group of buildings constructed in 1925 by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret for artists Oscar Miestchaninoff and Jacques Lipchitz. It embodies the principles of Purist architecture and was listed as a Historic Monument in 1975.

Located in the heart of a private and secure hamlet, on a 399 m² plot, the villa offers a living area of 241 m² spread across two buildings that frame a south-facing central garden.

The main residence, spanning three levels, features on the ground floor a magnificent reception area with double-height ceilings illuminated by a large workshop-style glass wall, an independent kitchen opening onto the garden, and an office. The first floor is dedicated to a bedroom with built-in storage and a shower room. The second floor includes a lounge extended by a terrace overlooking the garden, a master suite with a dressing room, a bathroom, and an office. A staircase leads to the 100 m² rooftop terrace, surrounded by lush vegetation and offering panoramic views of the surroundings.

The secure basement houses a boiler room, a laundry room, and a spacious storage area.

The two-level outbuilding, located on the opposite side of the garden, features a bright artist’s studio on the ground floor. The lower level includes a living room, a bedroom, a hammam, and a shower room.

A garage completes the property.

The villa is in perfect condition. The current owners have transformed the living space within the sculptor’s former studio, designing a collection of custom-made furniture in harmony with the property’s proportions. The rehabilitation project was carried out to allow for a restoration to its original state without major work.

The property is located along the 1930s architectural trail, in the northern part of Boulogne-Billancourt.

It is close to shops, schools, and the Bois de Boulogne.

© Manuel Bougot – FLC/ADAGP 2024

A Modern Artist’s Villa

The commission reflects the aspirations of many artists of the time, who sought to establish their studios in this quiet and upscale neighborhood. The original design combines a living space for the sculptor and his family with a dedicated studio area.

With its geometric lines and the minimalist aesthetic of its façades punctuated by large glass windows, the architecture belongs to the International Style and adheres to the principles of Purism, a doctrine developed by Le Corbusier and painter Amédée Ozenfant in the early 1920s. The streamlined curve of the building’s corner, the exterior walkway, the rooftop terrace, and the cantilevered staircase, reminiscent of a ship’s bridge and chimney, also reflect the “Streamline Moderne” movement, which was particularly popular at the time.

Le Corbusier designed several Purist-style buildings in Boulogne-Billancourt, such as the Ternisien House (1927), now demolished, and the Cook House (1926).

© Manuel Bougot – FLC/ADAGP 2024

A Unique Commission, Between Art and Architecture

Sculptors Jacques Lipchitz and Oscar Miestchaninoff commissioned Le Corbusier—whom Lipchitz had met in 1921 at an art auction—and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret to design a complex of three buildings to house their living, working, and exhibition spaces. Oscar Miestchaninoff’s home-studio, located at the corner of the composition, is the largest of the three planned artist houses. The Lipchitz home-studio was built right next door, and the walkway of the Miestchaninoff house was originally intended to connect to the home of artisan engraver Victor Canale, which was ultimately designed by a different architect.

Le Corbusier placed the studios on the ground floor to facilitate the handling of sculptures. These spaces feature generous volumes with double-height ceilings, thanks to the apartments occupying only part of the upper floors. The central garden was designed as a communal space, and the rooftops were laid out as expansive terraces.

Le Corbusier in his Studio © FLC/ADAGP 2024

The Lipchitz & Miestchaninoff Houses, Archival Image © FLC/ADAGP 2024

Le Corbusier: The Pope of Modernity

Born in 1887 in Switzerland and passing away in 1965, Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier, was an architect and urban planner renowned for his ability to make architecture a total art form. He conceived of buildings and interiors, including furniture and comfort, while also considering the urban dimension of all his creations. He remains undeniably one of the most iconic figures of the Modernist Movement.

Throughout his career, Le Corbusier shared his visions and theories through his participation in international exhibitions, such as the 1925 Exposition, where he presented the Pavilion of the New Spirit, and the 1937 Exposition, with his Pavilion of New Times.

A staunch defender of modernism, Le Corbusier embedded his architectural thinking in his villas, particularly in the 1928 Villa Savoye, where he theorized the “five points of modern architecture” (pilotis, the flat roof, ribbon windows, the free façade, and the open floor plan).

Although he was one of the most prolific architects of his time, many of his projects never came to fruition, such as the Voisin Plan and the Contemporary City for Three Million Inhabitants. Sometimes viewed as too polemical or radical by the general public, Le Corbusier’s work nonetheless had international resonance. His last major project was commissioned by the city of Chandigarh, India, where he was tasked with overseeing the entire urban planning for the creation of the new capital of Punjab, blending raw concrete and lush vegetation.

Le Corbusier’s entire body of work achieved international recognition in 2016 with its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Technical Details

Asking Price: €4,950,000
Fees: Seller’s responsibility

Property Tax: €1,878

Full Ownership

Heating: Individual, boiler, gas

© Manuel Bougot – FLC/ADAGP 2024

DPE : In progress

Additional information

Prix de vente

4 950 000 €

Géolocalisation

Boulogne-Billancourt (92)

Architecte

Le Corbusier & Pierre Jeanneret

Location

Paris & Ile-de-France

You may also like…