A former aerodrome clubhouse and regional Historical Monument,
designed by Le Corbusier and Jean Prouvé, combining modernism with the Lorraine horizon
designed by Le Corbusier and Jean Prouvé, combining modernism with the Lorraine horizon
Metz,
MEURTHE-ET-MOSELLE
lorraine
57000
FR
Location
In the north of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department, on land shaped for centuries by the rise of the steel-making industry, this modernist edifice stands along the edge of an aerodrome. Easily accessible via the A4 motorway and approximately 30 minutes from Metz, whose train station provides regular service to Paris and Luxembourg, the property is located on the eastern border of the Paris Basin and not far from a town with approximately 8,000 people known for its town hall/chateau and its 17-hectare grounds. In addition, the property, bordering the Lorraine natural regional park to the north, is also within close proximity to the Moyeuvre public woodland.
Description
Near the aerodrome and surrounded by a grassy lot of 3,000 m², a building, designed by Le Corbusier in the 1950s as the clubhouse for the adjacent aerodrome, stands out from the region’s more traditional buildings thanks to its exteriors, which combine light-colour plaster-coated masonry with wide picture windows, the latter of which are emphasised by bright red window frames, while its interior spaces, bathed in abundant natural light, reveal their stunning architectural lines and enjoy unobstructed 180° views of the surrounding area.
Co-designed by Le Corbusier – a major architect and city planner of the Modernist movement, whose work was based on a quest for balanced volumes as well as bright spaces – and the Lorraine designer/metalworker Jean Prouvé, who made headlines thanks to his works, which featured a precise blend of steel and aluminium, this building exudes undeniable functionality and elegance.
As for the roof, assembled with prefabricated aluminium components, it is made up of two back-to-back hulls placed over a central gutter, which come together to create a silhouette that is reminiscent of an airplane’s wings ready to take off and gives the whole an architectural identity where technical precision dialogues with aeronautical imagination.
Restored in the 2010s using Le Corbusier’s original blueprints in order to replicate its stylistic coherence, the building was recognised as a regional Historical Monument for its exteriors, roofs, weight-bearing structures and fireplaces.
Co-designed by Le Corbusier – a major architect and city planner of the Modernist movement, whose work was based on a quest for balanced volumes as well as bright spaces – and the Lorraine designer/metalworker Jean Prouvé, who made headlines thanks to his works, which featured a precise blend of steel and aluminium, this building exudes undeniable functionality and elegance.
As for the roof, assembled with prefabricated aluminium components, it is made up of two back-to-back hulls placed over a central gutter, which come together to create a silhouette that is reminiscent of an airplane’s wings ready to take off and gives the whole an architectural identity where technical precision dialogues with aeronautical imagination.
Restored in the 2010s using Le Corbusier’s original blueprints in order to replicate its stylistic coherence, the building was recognised as a regional Historical Monument for its exteriors, roofs, weight-bearing structures and fireplaces.
The Main Dwelling
Accessible from its eastern side, via an entryway, which provides access to an open kitchen designed as a bar area, the dwelling’s interior is divided into rooms designed according to the Modulor principles theorised by Le Corbusier.
With polished concrete floors and walls painted white, the immense living room faces the exterior via a wide picture window that extends across its entire length and is crowned by the visible curve of its aluminium roof, while the bright clarity of its wide windows cadence this space all day long and form a space ideal for convivial moments in front of the fireplace or a more cultural or professional vocation: with nearly 130 m², this room would be an excellent place to hold exhibitions or theme-based events.
Not far from here, a central hallway provides successive access to three minimalist bedrooms, which each comes with its own shower room. With about a dozen metres apiece, they exude a warm ambiance thanks to their varnished wood walls and ceilings, which contrast with the polished concrete floors in the living areas, whereas, their wood and stainless steel furniture, with their burnished reflections and clean lines, are characteristic of a living environment where aesthetics and function goes hand in hand.
The Side Building
Nearby, a second edifice, of approximately 100 m², rounds out the buildings on this property, while, constructed in the 1960s as military barracks and restored since, this edifice includes five bedrooms, a shower room and a bathroom, as well as a living room with an open kitchen.
The Outskirts
The 0.3-hectare property, blanketed in grass and scattered with mainly deciduous trees, surrounds the two buildings and seamlessly blends in with the nearby aerodrome’s field, while a polished concrete patio, of nearly 250 m², extends the living spaces towards the outdoors and provides an ideal setting for intimate gatherings. Lastly, a 2,000-litre Nordic bath, heated with wood logs, also promises privileged and relaxing moments facing the enchanting, panoramic landscape.
Our opinion
A result of the rare collaboration between two major figures of the Modernist movement, the edifice here in question was derived from the fruitful dialogue between Le Corbusier’s proportional precision and Jean Prouvé’s ingenious engineering. Here, materials, lines and colours come together to create striking rooms that are full of contrasts, but still easily adaptable, functional and comfortable.
Indeed, this one-of-a-kind property, ideal for architecture, design as well as aviation enthusiasts, makes it possible to imagine group holidays, artist residencies or a family-based living environment here, far removed from the more traditional settings. With its unobstructed view, ever-present sky and almost continual horizon line, which all contribute to a visceral experience of the landscape, the fluidity of its spaces is combined with industrial precision and each volume conveys a masterful harmony between forms, technique and usage.
Reference 497562
| Land registry surface area | 3002 m² |
| Main building floor area | 200 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 8 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 85 m² |
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
Share
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.
