Villa Jeanneret

Villa Jeanneret in Paris is one half of a pair of twin houses created by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret between 1923 and 1925, tucked away on square du Docteur-Blanche in the 16th arrondissement. Together with the neighbouring Villa La Roche, it now serves as the home of the Fondation Le Corbusier, the institution that safeguards the legacy of modernism's most famous architect.

What is Villa Jeanneret?

Villa Jeanneret, also known as Maison Jeanneret, shares the address 8–10 square du Docteur-Blanche with Villa La Roche, at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in the Auteuil district. The two houses count among the earliest major built works of Le Corbusier and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret, and they functioned as a testing ground for ideas the architect would soon codify into his celebrated principles of modern building. In 1928 the interiors were updated with the involvement of Charlotte Perriand, the designer closely associated with Le Corbusier's studio.

Neither house is lived in anymore. For decades the pair has housed the Fondation Le Corbusier: Villa Jeanneret contains the foundation's offices, archives and library, while the museum side of the operation occupies the adjacent Villa La Roche. The ensemble belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage listing dedicated to the architectural work of Le Corbusier.

What will you see there?

One practical point comes first: Villa Jeanneret is not open to the public. Visitors experience it from the street — and the exterior alone justifies the detour. The white, purist volume with its ribbon windows and complete absence of ornament shows just how sharply this architecture broke with the Parisian apartment blocks of the 1920s. Comparing the two twin villas is part of the pleasure: designed as one project, each answered the needs of a different occupant, and the differences are legible in the facades.

The natural way to plan a visit is to pair the walk-by with a tour of Villa La Roche, where the foundation runs the publicly accessible part of the ensemble. Square du Docteur-Blanche itself is a calm corner of Auteuil, ideal for photographing modernist architecture without crowds.

How do you get there?

Villa Jeanneret stands in the 16th arrondissement, in the Auteuil area of western Paris. The easiest approach is metro line 9 to Jasmin station, from which square du Docteur-Blanche is a short walk. The coordinates are 48.8519, 2.26528. The street is a small dead end, so arriving on foot works far better than driving up to the door.

When should you come?

Since Villa Jeanneret is viewed from outside, timing mostly affects the light — the white facade photographs best on bright days. If you intend to go inside neighbouring Villa La Roche, check the current opening days and hours on the Fondation Le Corbusier website beforehand, as the foundation manages access to the site. Architecture fans can cover the exterior and its surroundings in 30–60 minutes; allow more time if a museum visit is on the agenda.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Villa Jeanneret? No. Villa Jeanneret is closed to the public — it holds the offices, archives and library of the Fondation Le Corbusier. Visitors are admitted to the neighbouring Villa La Roche instead.

Who designed Villa Jeanneret? Le Corbusier together with Pierre Jeanneret, in 1923–1925. The interiors were renovated in 1928 with the participation of Charlotte Perriand.

Where exactly is Villa Jeanneret located? At 8–10 square du Docteur-Blanche in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, at the end of a cul-de-sac in Auteuil, close to Jasmin metro station on line 9.

How does Villa Jeanneret differ from Villa La Roche? They are twin houses from a single project, but their roles differ today: La Roche is the museum part of the foundation and can be toured, while Jeanneret serves as the foundation's headquarters and archive, so it is admired from the outside.