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Classified as a National historic Monument in 1990, the Villa Cavrois is currently in a state of neglect and requires major restoration (photograph taken in 1995).
"A Residence for a large family. A Residence for the family living in 1934 : air, light, work, sports area, hygiene, comfort, economy. This was the program..."
Robert Mallet-Stevens thus describes the program for the Villa that the industrialist from Roubaix Paul Cavrois ordered from him, and which as soon as completed in 1932, stands as an international reference in architecture since it so much synthesizes the contemporary tendencies of the european avant-garde adapted to suit the order of a large residence.
The very vast building stretches from East to West on a 65.6 yards length by articulating series of volumes covered with accessible terraces. The spectacular assembling of yellow "briquettes" with stressed horizontal joints even more emphasizes the general aspect of the house and explains the nickname "Cavrois boat" given to it since its completion.
The swimming pool which occupies a great part of the southern façade and the large park complete this composition which dominates the whole Beaumont hill.
Inside, the distribution of rooms, relatively traditional, grants much importance to the conception of lighting details, polychromy and furniture along with the use of modern techniques which made the villa the most accomplished Mallet-Stevens' work at a time he founded the Modern Artists Union.
The last Mallet-Stevens' private order, the villa Cavrois, was partly altered from 1947 to 1955 by the architect Pierre Barbe according to the family needs.
Sold in 1986 and left in a sad state of disrepair, it was classified as a National Historic Monument in 1990 but is still waiting for a restoration worth its patrimonial value.
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