Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The villa Vurpilot, located 18 rue Charles-Brifaut in Dijon (Côte d'Or), was built in 1928 by architect Alexandre Fournier for Jean Vurpilott, administrator of the Terrot factory. Its Art Deco style, marked by geometric volumes and contrasts of materials, reflects the influence of Robert Mallet-Stevens, especially in the stained glass windows attributed to Louis Barillet, the latter's collaborator. The building is distinguished by its reinforced concrete frame, its south-facing windows, and a workshop illuminated by the extended north of a terrace.

The villa, with its fence wall and its garden shelters, was listed as historical monuments by order of 9 October 2007. Its technical details, such as vacuum insulation or recessed shutters, testify to a rare constructive ingenuity for the time. The raised porch, surmounted by an awning, and the frieze of palmettes in mosaic highlight an extensive aesthetic research, close to the achievements of Mallet-Stevens like Villa Noailles.

Sponsored by Jean Vurpilot, figure of the Dijonnaise industry (Terrot Manufacture), the villa embodies the discreet luxury of the bourgeois residences of the 1920s. Its construction permit, issued in 1928, coincides with the climax of Art Deco in France, an artistic movement that promotes modernity and geometric elegance. The glass windows, combining glass and mirrors, recall Barillet's creations for Mallet-Stevens, strengthening the link between these major actors in the avant-garde architecture.

Today, Villa Vurpilot remains a remarkable example of the Dijon heritage, combining technical innovation and decorative refinement. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments guarantees the preservation of this architectural testimony, where are crossed industrial (Terrot) and artistic influences (Mallet-Stevens, Barillet).

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