In the 14th arrondissement, a few minutes from the Porte d’Orléans, a small, discreet street attracts lovers of architecture and secret strolls. Villa Seurat is unlike any other street in Paris. Here, there are no Haussmann-style buildings or bustling shops, but a succession of artists’ houses with modernist lines, built between the two world wars.
Villa Seurat: the best-kept secret of the 14th arrondissement
Villa Seurat was built in the 1920s, at a time when Paris was attracting creators from all over the world. The idea was to build a street entirely dedicated to artists, with homes designed as real studios. The project quickly attracted several architects and sculptors, each of whom designed a house to suit their own style. The result today is a surprisingly coherent street, despite the diversity of styles. Some facades are white and geometric, while others play with more rounded volumes or different materials.
Several important figures in architecture and sculpture have left their mark here. Notable examples include houses designed by André Lurçat and the Perret brothers, pioneers of reinforced concrete architecture. The villa also attracted artists and intellectuals such as Dali, Foujita, and Samuel Beckett, all of whom were seduced by the idea of living and working in a calm environment, away from the hustle and bustle.
©Atlas Obscura – @ruands
The Villa Seurat is easy to find on a stroll through the south of the 14th arrondissement. The street is short, almost silent, lined with small houses that contrast sharply with the large Parisian housing estates. In just a few steps, you feel as if you have left the capital and entered a neighborhood of secretive studios, where each facade tells a story.
It is located near the university campus and several other discreet streets, known for their artists’ houses or small, atypical buildings. The area forms a veritable micro-neighborhood dedicated to creativity, often overlooked by classic tourist routes.
Today, Villa Seurat remains a residential area, and visitors are asked to respect the peace and quiet of the residents. You can stroll around at your leisure, observing the details of the facades, the studio windows, and the colorful doors. It’s a short but refreshing getaway, perfect for discovering another side of Paris, far from the grand avenues.
📍Villa Seurat – 75014