Within RER reach, in Poissy, hides a very surprising house: the Villa Savoye. Built between 1928 and 1931 as a secondary residence to couple Eugénie and Pierre Savoye, the building is now one of the eight architectural pieces by Le Corbusier in Île-de-France.

Nestled in a lush park, the huge building – delicately surrounded by two paths of rose bushes – unveils an atypical architectural shape around a tree. Concrete cube on stilts, the Villa Savoye – looking like a still paquebot – surprises because of the bold geometry of its shapes.

Ticking all five principles of the modern movement thought by Le Corbusier, the house was designed as a “genuine architectural stroll”, according to the architect. Inside, softly tilted rails, spiral staircase, open-plan, garden-roof and wide openings onto the outdoor create mixed of rectilinear and clean lines.

Occupied during WWII, the villa was then left behind, before being purchased back by the city of Poissy. Now listed as historic monument and listed as UNESCO World Heritage, it continues to display its avantgarde modernity with pride in its lush setting. Today, you can visit the Ile-de-France heritage gem. A must for architecture fans and those willing to enjoy surprising discoveries.