Maison de Verre, Modernist house in the 7th arrondissement, Paris, France
The building uses translucent glass blocks, steel frames and mechanical installations to create three residential levels with movable partitions, rotating panels and adjustable elements that adapt according to occupant requirements.
Pierre Chareau designed the residence between 1928 and 1932 for Dr. Jean Dalsace and integrated a medical practice on the ground floor, working with metalworker Louis Dalbet to execute the movable components.
This residence demonstrates an important shift in French building practices by integrating industrial materials with private living spaces and influenced the development of modern architecture in Europe during the early 1930s.
The house at 31 Rue Saint-Guillaume, in the 7th arrondissement, is a private residence closed to tourists; the owner, Robert M. Rubin, who bought it in 2005, permits only a limited number of tours. The nearest metro station is Rue du Bac.
The building preserves its original equipment including retractable cabinets, folding sinks and a sliding glass curtain between living area and library, all operating without electric systems but controlled through weights and counterweights.
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