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Origin and history

The Pretty Cottage, originally named Scarabée, is an emblematic construction of the Touquet-Paris-Plage, built in 1927 according to the plans of architect Louis Quételart. Its original name comes from green varnished tiles in the shape of beetles that originally covered its roof, evoking a Dutch aesthetic. The facades and roofs, marked by bricks, rounded piles and a broken long-pane cover, were listed as historical monuments on December 1, 1997.

Located at 84 avenue du Paradis-Thérèse, the villa consists of a house body extended by bedrooms and a back garage, forming a U. Its interior, organized around a central hall, distributes living room, dining room and staircase leading to the rooms. The chimney stumps aligned with the facades and oculi pierced in the walls reflect a meticulous care brought to the details, typical of the seaside architecture of the 1920s.

The Scarabée villa illustrates the influence of Dutch architecture in the region, with plumbing Flemish tiles and sophisticated brick assemblies. Its shell-shaped roof, initially covered with green tiles, earned it its evocative name. Today known as Pretty Cottage, it remains a testimony of the early 20th century seaside architectural heritage, mixing functionality and aesthetics.

Ranked among the historical monuments of Pas-de-Calais, the villa is part of the urban landscape of the Touquet-Paris-Plage, a seaside resort that is booming in the inter-war period. Its inscription in 1997 highlights its heritage value, both for its style and for its role in local history. The references to Dutch architecture are particularly marked, as evidenced by the materials and forms adopted by Louis Quételart.

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