la maison de verre

maison de verre
Originally uploaded by gverster_artwork.
la maison de verre [2008] oil and acrylic on canvas; 75 x 100 cm

Tucked inside a discreet courtyard in the St-Germain-des-Prés area sits one of the early icons from the modern movement in french architecture - la Maison de Verre, designed by Pierre Chareau [1883-1950] for the Dalsace family in the late 1920's.
My fortuitous visit to this "classical" glass house some 12 years ago was facilitated by a parisian relative who was acquainted with the owners.
The tour of the interior was a revelation of the design innovation of Chareau whose artistic authority was apparent in every detail.
[Looking down from the partially open upper corridor onto the double-height living room evoked the familiar set-up in the childhood home of my father's design, in which my father also created many of the interior features to make our house a unique one]