Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Louis Carré House, located in Bazoches-sur-Guyonne in the Yvelines, is a private residence built between 1957 and 1960 by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto for Louis Carré, a French collector and galleryist. The latter, passionate about contemporary art, chooses Aalto for his less radical style than Le Corbusier, demanding a Breton slate roof and spaces adapted to his collections. The villa, raised in parpaings, brick and limestone, is distinguished by its copper roofing advances, its wooden interiors ( Ash, Oak, Teak) and natural and artificial lighting studied.

Designed as a setting for art and family life, the house was classified as a Historic Monument in 1996. It retains its original furniture, designed by Aalto, and its original plan, offering a rare example of Nordic architecture in France. The garden, once open to the countryside of francil, has lost its original appearance under the fridaisons. Acquired in 2006 by the Alvar Aalto Association in France, the villa has been open to the public since 2007, while its garage and swimming pool, designed by Aalto between 1961 and 1962, complete the protected ensemble.

The construction combines Finnish companies and French architect Guy Derevoge for site monitoring. The materials – angers slate, copper, teak – and details such as gargoyles pouring water into circular basins illustrate Aalto's attention to detail. The house, today a cultural place, has also been used as a setting for films (such as David and Madame Hansen of Alexander Astier) and music clips, showing its aesthetic and cinematic appeal.

The project was born in 1956 when Louis Carré acquired land near the property of his friend Jean Monnet. He sees the opportunity to create a villa that is both intimate and dedicated to art, reflecting his dual passion for Scandinavian design and contemporary works. The collaboration with Aalto, although little known at the time in France, resulted in a major work, unique in the country. The house thus embodies a dialogue between French and Finnish cultures, marked by innovation and harmony of spaces.

External links