<   | >Unique private house in France designed by Alvar Aalto goes into Finnish ownership, press release march 7, 2006

Maison Louis Carré

Unique private house in France designed by Alvar Aalto goes into Finnish ownership

The Finnish Cultural Foundation has bought the Maison Carré, a house designed by Alvar Aalto, together with an agreed proportion of the contents for EUR 1,500,000. In addition, the Cultural Foundation has granted the sum of EUR 200,000 for immediate management and maintenance costs on the property. The deal was entered into through a foundation set up in France that will manage the property and run its activities.

The Maison Carré, which is not far from Paris, is one of the most important private homes designed by Alvar Aalto. In the same way as the Villa Mairea at Noormarkku, it is a residence that brings work and private life together. Aalto designed the interior of the house in considerable detail and the Maison Carré has retained its original appearance booth inside and out. The house is protected and classed as an important historic building in France.

Louis Carré (1897-1977) was a prominent French art dealer and gallery owner whose artists included Leger and Picasso. Louis Carré commissioned the house from Alvar Aalto in 1956, and he and his wife moved there in 1959.

The Maison Carré will be taken into use in 2007. It will have a major role in making Finnish architecture and design better known in France.

More information:

Maison Louis Carré 1956-61 - background
press release july 31 2007: Maison Louis Carré will be open to the public from August

For further information

Ms Raisa Kiesi, Jurist, Finnish Cultural Foundation, tel. +358 (0)9 6128 1229 Mr Markku Lahti, Director, Alvar Aalto Museum, tel. +358 (0)50 557 8884

Maison Carré. Photo: Martti Kapanen. Alvar Aalto Museum.