Villa Savoye transforms this autumn under the eye of Matali Crasset
Imagine stepping into a modernist villa listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and discovering sculptures, tapestries and ceramics that seem to hold a conversation with every pilotis, every ribbon window. That is exactly what the Villa Savoye in Poissy is offering from 23 September 2026, with designer Matali Crasset’s exhibition “Le temps de la secousse”, on view until 11 January 2027.
A designer confronts Le Corbusier’s legacy at the Villa Savoye
Matali Crasset is not moving into just any space. Built from 1928 as a weekend retreat for Pierre and Eugénie Savoye, the villa embodies the famous “five points of modern architecture” defined by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret: pilotis, a roof garden, a free floor plan, a free facade and ribbon windows. This architectural programme, as rigorous as it is visionary, forms the framework within which Crasset’s works find their place.
The encounter is far from incidental. The French designer’s practice is rooted in geometric forms, bold colours and modular elements, characteristics that resonate directly with Le Corbusier’s purist vocabulary. Yet the two worlds do not merge: they clash, generating a visual and intellectual tension that visitors sense from the very first rooms.
Listed as a historic monument, the villa has also been part of Le Corbusier’s works inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2016. Hosting a contemporary exhibition in such a setting is therefore a significant undertaking, both in terms of preserving the site and keeping it alive and relevant for today’s audiences.
The principle of the trilogy at the heart of the exhibition
To understand “Le temps de la secousse”, you need to grasp the central notion that structures Matali Crasset’s entire approach: the trilogy. According to the designer, three elements are enough to bring a pattern, a form or a structure into being. This principle becomes a reading grid applicable to questions as varied as ecology, housing and living together.
In practice, this logic unfolds through a body of works spread across the villa’s different spaces. Sculptures, tapestries, ceramics and embroideries coexist and respond to one another. Each piece is not simply placed in a room: it enters into dialogue with the surrounding architecture, inviting visitors to look differently at what is right in front of them.
What visitors can do on site
The exhibition is far more than a silent stroll past artworks. Thematic tours focused on forms, colours and textures accompany the route, offering additional keys to understanding the dialogue between Matali Crasset’s work and the villa’s architecture.
- Exhibition open from 23 September 2026 to 11 January 2027
- Children’s workshop “le nichoir imaginaire”: design a small modular structure after the visit
- Thematic tours exploring forms, colours and textures
- Individual ticket: €9; free entry for under-18s and, subject to conditions, for 18-to-25-year-olds
- Access to the garden is free and unrestricted
For families, a workshop designed specifically for children rounds off the visit. Titled “le nichoir imaginaire”, it invites young visitors to design a small modular structure after exploring the exhibition. This hands-on extension gives the experience a concrete, memorable dimension for the youngest guests.
Practical information to plan your visit
The Villa Savoye is open every day except Monday, from 10 am to 5 pm between September and April. The individual admission price is €9. Entry is free for under-18s and, under certain conditions, for 18-to-25-year-olds. The garden remains freely and freely accessible at all times, regardless of the season.
These pricing conditions make the visit accessible to a wide audience. What’s more, the combination of the exhibition, thematic tours and the children’s workshop makes this historic monument a destination in its own right, whether for a family outing or a day out for architecture and design enthusiasts.
