The "Garden House"

The “chambre d’été” extends across the south side of the exterior, and echoes the geometry of the interior space. Its conception is strongly influenced by his travels in the Middle East (1911; architectural vernacular of the Balkans, travels in Italy…).

The “chambre d’été” is “totally protected from the outside, with a panoramic view of the mountain range and is oriented to permit constant use from morning to evening protected from the wind. With its paved floor, in the middle of the lawn and flowerbeds, it is always dry…”
Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, notice of sale, 21.01.1919.

Below the level of the “chambre d’été,” the garden reflects the concept of the architectural promenade developed by Le Corbusier. The terraces and walls structure the slope; the hill towards the house follows a clever path. His father, Georges Jeanneret, was a passionate gardener, who enjoyed caring for the flowerbeds, vegetable garden, trees, and berry bushes.

Changes during the 1950s completely transformed the physiognomy of the garden. A painstaking analysis of traces of information garnered from old photographs has enabled restoration of the original form. The signature of Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, can only be seen as a general sketch.