The Rue Mallet-Stevens in the 16th arrondissement of Paris serves as a physical manifesto for its creator, featuring six distinct houses constructed in the 1920s. This project highlights the approach of a designer who operated simultaneously as an architect, production designer, and visual artist throughout his career in France.
Professional Formation and Early Practice
Born in 1886 within the 8th arrondissement of Paris, Robert Mallet-Stevens completed his formal education at the Special School of Architecture between 1903 and 1906. His early work reflected an interest in the collaboration between diverse art forms, a concept he explored in his writing. By 1922, he had published a portfolio of 32 designs titled Une Cité Moderne, signaling his movement toward a rationalist aesthetic.
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His output included private homes, shops, factories, and apartment buildings, such as the structure at 7 rue Méchain. Significant commissions included Villa Paul Poiret, initiated in 1921, and the Villa Noailles in Hyères, developed between 1923 and 1933. He also completed the Villa Cavrois, Maison Collinet, and the workshop for the glassmaker Barillet. His functionalist designs prioritized light as a central element of the built environment.
Film, Collaboration, and Administration
Beyond traditional construction, he pioneered architectural design for cinema, notably creating sets for the 1924 silent film L'Inhumaine. He served as the first president of the Union des Artistes Moderne, a group founded in 1929. Later in his career, he shifted toward academic leadership, holding the position of director at the École des beaux-arts de Lille from 1935 to 1939.
Final Years and Historical Review
The recipient of the Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1926 and Officer of the Legion of Honour in 1935, Mallet-Stevens lived through a period of significant transition in French design. He died in 1945 in the 7th arrondissement of Paris and is buried at Passy Cemetery. His archives were destroyed according to his instructions, though a 2005 Centre Pompidou exhibition later revitalized interest in his work.
Fast facts
- Born: 1886, 8th arrondissement of Paris
- Died: 1945, 7th arrondissement of Paris
- Notable work: Villa Cavrois
- Education: Special School of Architecture
- Professional role: Director, École des beaux-arts de Lille (1935-1939)
- Awards: Officer of the Legion of Honour (1935)
- Notable work: Villa Noailles
- Burial: Passy Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the Rue Mallet-Stevens?
Built in the 1920s in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, the street features six individual houses designed by Mallet-Stevens, serving as a concentrated example of his work.
Did he work in film production?
Yes, he was a production designer and is particularly noted for his work on the 1924 silent film L'Inhumaine.
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