If you stroll down the Rue Mallet-Stevens in Paris’ 16th arrondissement, you’ll discover five exquisite examples of modernist architecture from the early 20th century. The architect Robert Mallet-Stevens died at a young age and asked that his personal archive be burned; as a result, his name is relatively unknown compared to that of his contemporary, Le Corbusier. However, the houses on Rue Mallet-Stevens–just a few blocks north of the Fondation Le Corbusier–are well worth a visit. The architect’s style is unassuming, with plain lines and a spare use of color, but a closer look reveals a masterful elegance and grace.
According to Curbed National, the most famous house on Rue Mallet-Stevens can be yours for $3.9 million. Mallet-Stevens originally built the house for the sculptors Jan and Joel Martel, twin brothers who lived and worked in Paris in the early 20th century. Mallet-Stevens’ building is beautifully designed, down to the Martel brothers’ mailbox (see slideshow). The style of their home-cum-studio is both heavy and playful; bright splashes of yellow paint enliven its looming concrete walls.
Be sure to read our article about the Rue Mallet-Stevens to learn more about the architect and his work.
