Villa La Roche

Villa La Roche in Paris is one of Le Corbusier's most influential early houses — a modernist villa built in 1923–1925, designed together with Pierre Jeanneret for Raoul La Roche, a Swiss banker and collector of avant-garde art. Also known as Maison La Roche, the building today serves as the headquarters of the Fondation Le Corbusier and welcomes visitors as a museum. Together with other works by the architect, it is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Why does Villa La Roche matter?

Raoul La Roche gave his architect an unusual brief: he wanted a home that would double as a private gallery for his collection of avant-garde paintings. Le Corbusier turned the commission into a built manifesto. The house was a testing ground for the ideas he would soon codify as his famous "five points of modern architecture" — parts of the building stand on slender columns, the roofs are flat, windows run in horizontal bands, and the interiors flow freely instead of being locked into a rigid plan.

The villa's signature feature is the curved gallery wing with its gently rising interior ramp. Le Corbusier described the experience as a "promenade architecturale" — an architectural walk in which the building reveals itself step by step, framing a new view at every turn. A triple-height entrance hall, internal bridges and balconies, and carefully composed wall colors make the interior feel like a walk-through sculpture.

What will you see inside?

A visit covers both halves of the house: the gallery wing with its ramp and luminous hall, and the more intimate residential rooms. The preserved spatial layout, original color scheme and period furnishings show what daily life looked like in an avant-garde home of the 1920s. The Fondation Le Corbusier also presents material related to the architect's work here.

Right next door stands a twin building — Villa Jeanneret, designed at the same time for the architect's brother. The two houses form a single ensemble on square du Docteur-Blanche, a quiet cul-de-sac in the 16th arrondissement, but it is Villa La Roche that is open to the public as a museum.

How do you get to Villa La Roche?

The villa sits on square du Docteur-Blanche in the Auteuil district of western Paris. The easiest approach is by metro line 9 to Jasmin station, from which a short walk through the leafy residential streets of the 16th arrondissement brings you to the entrance. The neighborhood itself rewards a stroll — it is one of the richest pockets of early twentieth-century architecture in Paris.

When should you visit and how long does it take?

An unhurried visit takes about an hour, though architecture enthusiasts often linger to photograph the play of light in the hall and along the ramp. As a small museum house with limited capacity, the villa is best visited after checking current opening days and hours on the Fondation Le Corbusier website. The trip combines well with a walk through Auteuil and Passy or an excursion to the nearby Bois de Boulogne.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who designed Villa La Roche?

The house was built in 1923–1925 to a design by Le Corbusier and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret. It was commissioned by Raoul La Roche, a Swiss banker from Basel who collected avant-garde art.

Is Villa La Roche a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Yes. It belongs to the series of architectural works by Le Corbusier inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as an outstanding contribution to the Modern Movement.

How is Villa La Roche different from the neighboring Villa Jeanneret?

They are two connected houses from the same project. Villa La Roche was conceived as a home with a private art gallery and now operates as a museum, while the twin Jeanneret house is used by the Fondation Le Corbusier for institutional purposes.

Where exactly is the villa located?

On square du Docteur-Blanche in the 16th arrondissement of Paris (Auteuil), close to Jasmin station on metro line 9.