Under its century-old glasshouses, plants might soon share the spotlight with art. In Villiers-sur-Marne, in the Val-de-Marne (94), the Villa Michot, a former 19th-century bourgeois property, is lining up the restoration of its horticultural greenhouses and winter gardens, now endangered by years of neglect. Picked for the Mission Patrimoine 2026, spearheaded by Stéphane Bern and the Fondation du patrimoine, the project aims to transform these historic spaces into a cultural third place, hosting exhibitions, workshops and nature-focused activities. Work is slated to begin in 2027, with completion anticipated by the end of the same year.
Built around 1870, Villa Michot harks back to a moment when the outskirts of Paris drew affluent families seeking quiet and greenery. Located on the former Désert estate, the property testifies to the craze for villa retreats that blended the comfort of urban homes with the pleasures of the countryside. Its landscaped park notably housed an orangery, a kitchen garden, and several greenhouses—the glass-and-metal structures illustrating 19th-century architectural advances. These winter gardens protected delicate plants from the cold while taking advantage of natural light.
Over the decades, these structures have withstood the march of time and the damp. Since 2023, assessments have revealed substantial corrosion of the ironwork, bent metal components, and many broken or missing window panes. Some structures now face a risk of partial collapse, making restoration essential to safeguard this heritage.
Great news for lovers of old stones and historic gardens: the Winter Gardens and the old greenhouses at Villa Michot are among the 100 departmental sites selected for Mission Patrimoine 2026. The only project in Val-de-Marne, this site stands to receive funding to help safeguard it. The work will include roof repairs, restoration of metal frameworks and ironwork, and interventions on electrical networks, floors, parquet, and paintings.
The ambition, however, goes beyond simply preserving the buildings. The municipality plans to give a new function to the former greenhouses by turning them into a cultural third space dedicated to creation and collaboration. The project envisions hosting exhibitions, artist residencies, participatory workshops and biodiversity-focused activities. It also contemplates intergenerational events, plant exchanges, and awareness-raising on urban ecology.
This transformation builds on an earlier phase already completed. Reacquired by the City of Villiers-sur-Marne in 2019, the property saw its 8,500 m² park reopen to the public on May 18, 2025, after renovation work. Visitors can now enjoy, during the opening season, tree-lined avenues, a rose garden, a community allotment, beehives and an ecological pond. A small guinguette, concerts and various cultural events also enliven the estate.
According to the timetable published by the Fondation du patrimoine, work on the winter gardens and greenhouses is due to begin in early 2027, with completion planned for the end of 2027. That said, it remains a project deadline: no exact opening date has yet been announced for the future cultural hub.
The restoration of the main house is also planned for the longer term, to complete the property's transformation into a cultural space. In the meantime, the park carries on with the seasons and municipal events, while the old glass buildings await a new use. A renewed outlook for this 19th-century ensemble, which, amid a largely urbanized city, keeps alive the memory of the grand holiday houses that once lined the eastern outskirts of Paris.
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Location
Villa Michot
9 Avenue de l'Isle
94350 Villiers sur Marne
Route planner
Official website
www.villiers94.fr
