Location

Approx. 40 km (25 miles) from Paris, in a town with 2,000 inhabitants on a hillside by the Seine. In the French department of Yvelines and the French Vexin Regional Nature Park. Accessed from Paris via the A14 and A13 motorways, then a main road and, finally, a narrow lane that winds up into the woods. The A14 motorway puts La Défense 30 minutes away and Paris about 40 minutes away.
Bourget, Orly and Roissy airports are about an hour away. There are 4 train stations less than 5 km (3 miles) away on the Paris/Normandy line. Infant and junior schools are 5 minutes away by car.
A school bus goes to secondary schools and sixth form colleges which are 5/10 minutes away by car.

Description

A little background
Architect Robert Mallet-Stevens was commissioned by fashion designer Paul Poiret who, in his time, was a forerunner of the Fashion Arts, to build this villa in the 1920’s.
Together with the Villa Noailles in Hyères, on the Var coast, the Villa Cavrois, located in Croix in the north, the Villa Poiret is one of the three villas of this size built in France by Mallet-Stevens; all three are currently classified as 20th century historic heritage. The latter is the last to remain in the hands of a private owner. Building works began in 1922, but were stopped due to lack of funds in June 1923, despite the fact that only the carcass was finished. Following the bankruptcy of Paul Poiret’s fashion house in 1926, the unfinished building was abandoned for several years, before being bought by Elvire Popesco in 1934. And, after the war, it was another architect, Paul Boyer, who was entrusted with the mission of completing the works. A few modifications were made at this time which gave the villa the appearance of a cruise liner, bringing the transatlantic steamers which were all the rage at the time to mind. Mallet-Stevens’ basic design was, however, preserved. The actress lived in her home until 1985. Today, the building resembles a chateau from early modern times. Left empty for fifteen or so years, the property was bought in 1999 by an industrialist, a lover and collector of contemporary art who, in turn, sold it in 2006 to its current owner, an enthusiast who successfully carried out a full and exemplary restoration programme using the plans drawn up for Elvire Popesco. These renovation works were validated by an architect from “Bâtiments de France” and a master architect from the French “Monuments Historiques”. Designed by Mallet-Stevens, the listed caretakers’ pavilion was also completely restored.
The property
This major work of modernist Art-Deco style comprises a villa and a caretakers’ pavilion which are built on the south-east part of approx. 3.5 ha (8.6 acres) of fully enclosed land. The villa stands alone in its parklands comprising lawns, grasslands, an orchard and a wood. Its dominant position provides superb views over the surrounding clusters of trees and the Seine valley. Once past the caretakers’ pavilion located near to the main gates, the approx. 100 m (109 yard) long, wide driveway, leads up to the villa. Predominantly using reinforced concrete, a new material at the time, Mallet-Stevens designed this residence horizontally around a patio, at the end of which is the main, double-leaf, glass and metal entrance door. Inspired by the Cubist gardens of the Villa Noailles, the large patio now features two rows of six olive trees planted in large square planters. Fifty or so yards to the west of the villa, an outdoor, completely unoverlooked, 14.5x5 m (47.6x16.4 ft) heated, salt-water swimming pool, surrounded by a vast tiled deck, blends perfectly with the property and its parklands.
Some superb views over one of the loops of the Seine and its surroundings, over the west facade of the villa as well as over the parklands and the surrounding woods are to be had from the tree-shaded swimming pool area. There is an orchard on the hillside near to the pool. All around the property is a large grassy area that is bordered by a wooded estate comprising various species.
Main building
With French MH - 20th century Label listing and approx. 800 m² (8,611 sq ft) of living space, the main building is surrounded by approx. 1,000 m² (10,764 sq ft) of wide terraces and spacious roof terraces. Once over the threshold, on the left of the entrance hall, there is without doubt the most remarkable room. This south-east facing, right-angle lounge has a 7.10 m (23.3 ft) high ceiling and is flanked by floor-to-ceiling picture windows with black metal frames. Double glass doors in the corner of this full-length window, on the east side, lead out on to large outdoor terraces that run along the east side and a part of the south side of the villa, enabling full advantage to be taken of nature and the view. There is an ornamental fireplace against one of the lounge walls. Two stairways lead down in a V-shape from the terrace to the south-east part of the parklands. Following on from the lounge, in the east wing of the villa, a long corridor leads to a study, a home cinema lounge, a bathroom, a toilet, two bedrooms, a dressing room and a bathroom with toilet. All the east-facing rooms have access to the terrace running along this side of the building. Two adjoining dining rooms face the entrance hall. The first and bigger of the two has large, south-facing picture windows that open out on to one of the terraces. The second, smaller one, from which a stairway leads down to the basement, provides access to the west-facing kitchen and pantry. The pantry has a French window opening on to another terrace. The kitchen also leads to a laundry room / storeroom. Following on from the pantry, the west wing comprises a landing with a stairway leading upstairs, a toilet, a study, in front of which a stairway leads down to the basement, and a corridor which leads to a study, a games room and a billiards room. Immediately to the left on the first floor is a door leading out on to the roof terrace of the west wing. Straight on, a corridor leads to a bathroom with a west-facing picture window, a toilet, two south-facing bedrooms with windows that all open out on to the south terrace, and an inner balcony that overlooks the main lounge with its 7.10 m (23.3 ft) high ceiling. In the east wing, the indoor balcony leads to a landing which in turn leads to a bathroom, a toilet, a lounge and two bedrooms, the walls of which feature French windows opening out on to the east wing terrace.
On this same landing, a wide stairway leads up to the second floor which comprises a terrace, from which a last stairway leads to the belvedere. This lookout platform provides an unobstructed panoramic view of the Seine valley as well as a 360° view of the surroundings.
The approx. 800 m² (8,610 sq ft) basement comprises approx. 400 m² (4,305 sq ft) of cellars and approx. 400 m² (4,305 sq ft) containing a “spa” area, the fixtures and fittings of which await completion.
The outbuilding
The caretakers’ pavilion and its terrace with French MH - 20th century Label listing spans approx. 100 m² (1,076 sq ft) of living space comprising:
- Ground floor: entrance hall, lounge / dining room, American-style kitchen, laundry room, toilet.
- First floor: bedroom, bathroom, toilet.

Our opinion

The Villa Poiret, also known as the Château de Mézy, is one of the most famous of architect Robert Mallet-Stevens’ works announcing the Art Deco movement. It should be seen as a living work of art, providing its fortunate, future owner with the pleasure, not only of owning it, but also of living in it. Pleasures that are rare where Art is concerned.

Ce qu’ils en ont pensé
“Smooth surfaces, straight edges, sharp curves, polished materials, right angles, clarity and order. This is my logical, geometric house of the future”. Rob Mallet-Stevens. “All the materials were brought to the work site and the house grew out of the ground like a living plant under the tender care of its prestigious architect, Mallet-Stevens. It was all white, pure, majestic and a little provocative, just like a lily”, was how Paul Poiret spoke about the building that he was unable to complete and that we have, most beautifully renovated, up for sale today.

Exclusive sale

Price : Contact us
Our fees are included in the stated sale price.

contact

NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.