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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The house at 2 avenue Bourdaloue (or Masséna) in Maisons-Laffitte was commissioned in 1958 by Dr Bernard for his family. Initially, he addressed Le Corbusier, who, too busy, directed him to his collaborator Roger Aujame. Finally, it was Édith Schreiber-Aujame, Franco-American architect and wife of Roger, who designed the building between 1959 and 1960, assisted by Workshop 12. This project reflects a faithful interpretation of the Corbusian principles: geometric volumes, raw materials, and harmonious integration with nature.

The house is organized around a central staircase and five half-levels, with a largely glazed south façade and northern facades and is more closed. Materials, such as limestone, bandaged concrete, exotic wood and slate, are assembled without unnecessary ornaments. The raw, sculptural concrete sunbreaker and the initial absence of chassis enhance the transparency and modernity of the whole. This monument embodies a synthesis of the Modern Movement, inspired in particular by the post-war Indian achievements of Le Corbusier.

In 2023, Dr Bernard's house included not only the building, but also its interior fittings, gardens, and fence (except the north wall). This project is part of a corpus of works by former collaborators of Le Corbusier, helping to redefine the individual house of the 1950s. Although often overshadowed by their master, these architects, like Edith Schreiber-Aujame, developed a personal writing that is now gaining in recognition.

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