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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Franciscan Chapel of Arcueil, called the Perret Chapel, is a Catholic building built between 1927 and 1929 by the brothers Auguste and Gustave Perret for Franciscan nuns of the Immaculate Conception. They ran the orphanage of the Petites-Filles-Pauvres and had a limited budget, pushing architects to design a simple building: a rectangular plan with a reinforced concrete frame and hollow brick walls arranged in checker. The chapel, located upstairs, is illuminated by abstract stained glass windows and claustras, creating a characteristic blue light.

Ranked a historic monument in 1999, the chapel has not undergone any modifications since its construction. Originally destined for worship, she lost her religious function and today belongs to the Congregation of the Pallotine Brothers. The ground floor, once open preau, houses a large room, while a staircase leads to the chapel and a top stand. The current liturgical furniture, designed in 2002 by Jean-François Ferraton (glass altar, ambon, seats), contrasts with the original architecture.

The project was led by the brothers Perret, entrepreneurs based in Paris, for the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters. In 1973, the buildings were bequeathed to the La Vie au grand air foundation. The glass windows, inspired by those of Raincy (other Perret production), and the reinforced concrete structure testify to the architectural innovation of the 1920s, despite financial constraints. The chapel remains a rare example of modern religious architecture in Île-de-France.

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