The impact of Marta Pan and André Wogenscky persists, as their modernist residence in France continues to stand as a testament to their influence.
In the picturesque village of Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, France, lies a hidden gem of mid-20th-century modernism - the home of Fondation Marta Pan - André Wogenscky. This modernist villa, designed and built by the couple themselves, Marta Pan, an abstract sculptor, and André Wogenscky, a prominent Modernist architect, is a testament to the harmonious integration of art and architecture.
Built in 1952, the house reflects the ideals of modernist architecture through its clean, bold lines and volumes, open design that embraces nature, functional living, working, and leisure environments, and the dialogue between architecture and sculpture. The white-painted surfaces are punctuated by the primary colours of Pan's sculptural details, creating a striking contrast that enhances the aesthetic appeal of the villa.
The main cubic volume contains both house and studio, with domestic and work areas connected in a single, flowing, double-height multifunctional environment. Inside, the bathroom is a definitive highlight, entirely clad in small hexagonal tiles. The house features quirky details such as a sculptural roof rainspout and sunshades in the form of pronounced concrete boxes, adding to its unique charm.
Since 2011, the house and its surrounding 7,000 m² park—displaying about twenty sculptures—have been preserved by the Villa’s Foundation to promote the legacy of both artists. The Foundation opens the home for guided public visits, educational programs, and contemporary creative collaborations, emphasising the ongoing relevance of this architectural and artistic landmark.
André Wogenscky and Marta Pan, who went on to become respected figures of French post-war culture, were among the artists who settled in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse. Philolaos Tloupas, a prolific Greek-born sculptor, settled next door with his family in the 1960s. The village, located on the south-western end of the RER B line from Paris, became a popular destination for settlers after the Second World War due to its cheap land, attracting young families and artists unable to afford property in the capital.
Wogenscky, who had grown up in an old, aristocratic Polish family that moved to France in the 18th century, studied architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and worked at the Rue de Sèvres studio of Le Corbusier from 1936. He later designed a series of public buildings, including the préfecture des Hauts-de-Seine, the Maison de la Culture in Grenoble, and the Ministry of Defence in Beirut.
Marta Pan, Wogenscky's wife, studied at Paris' École des Beaux-Arts and became highly influenced by the organic works of Jean Arp, Constantin Brâncuşi, and Fernand Léger. The couple collaborated on two seminal public projects in Paris, the hospitals of Necker and Saint Antoine, where Pan created a series of monumental interior sculptures.
One of Pan's most notable sculptures, Le Teck (1956), inspired choreographer Maurice Béjart, who later created an entire ballet of the same name. The house and studio of André Wogenscky and Marta Pan in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse serves as a living museum for Wogenscky’s architectural innovation and Pan’s sculptural art, illustrating the ideals of open, functional design and artistic synthesis that characterized the modernist movement. The Fondation Marta Pan - André Wogenscky continues to preserve the rich creative legacy of André Wogenscky and Marta Pan into the next century.
The house and studio of André Wogenscky and Marta Pan, a living testament to modernist architecture and the harmonious fusion of art and architecture, offers a unique blend of lifestyle and home-and-garden experiences, with its functional living spaces and surrounding park displaying about twenty sculptures. The Foundation's tours and educational programs provide an insight into the ongoing relevance of this architectural and artistic landmark for contemporary creative collaborations.
