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Catalogue Details Michael Rosenauer 1888-1971 Country House for Count Paul de Vallombrosa at St. Cloud, Paris 1930. Two designs (i) North Front Elevation. (ii) South Front Elevation. Pen & ink with watercolours Signed: Michael Rosenauer 4 Upper George Street, London W1 Dated: 1930 Inscribed: Count Paul de Vallombrosa's Country House at St. Cloud North Front / South Front Both 37 x 56 cms This house occupies a marvellous position on the edge of the St.Cloud golf course with a direct view to Paris. In 1930 it was the last word in smart architect-designed ART DECO. The Sunday Referee described the project in its 2 March 1930 edition, saying "The Comte and Comtesse de Vallombrosa's new house on the St. Cloud golf course in Paris ... is a wonderful place, with the last word in bathrooms and a huge salon that is walled almost entirely by windows ... Mr Rosenauer believes that houses should reflect the personalities of their owners, not the personality of the architect". A combination of smooth white cement and brickwork for the exterior walls creates an interesting surface pattern with a contemporary feel. Windows are positioned to indicate floor levels, not in strong horizontal lines but in groups, and singly, often with a vertical edge of brick. The use of cement, brick and fenestration work together like a musical 'dotted' rhythym across the house over which the architect keeps skilful control (Rosenauer also designed the Time & Life Building, London 1951- now a listed building). The Salon received acclaim at the time due to its grand scale and the feature of the windows running around three sides of the room unbroken at the two corners. Rosenauer commented "I am making it with glass corners and full length windows to give the idea that the interior is in the open air with leaves and branches almost inside the room" - it was intended to work like a covered terrace. Terraces are a feature of the property as Rosenauer intended the garden to become a part of the architecture. At first floor level, an overhead trellis, festooned with climbing plants, is a part of the grand sun terrace outside the main bedroom, boudoir and bathroom. More sun terraces run at upper levels leading from guest bedrooms and each is surrounded with a balustrade and flower boxes. This house exemplifies the ART DECO country house weekend experience. Guests arriving from Paris by car for a weekend of golf and countryside, would drive through the entrance to the property and find themselves entering a special courtyard flanked by garages and the groundsman's house. A short journey to the main house allowed visitors a glimpse of the garden, hillside and golf course before they entered the grand salon where the magnificent views direct to Paris opened up in front of them. This is ART DECO design on a grand scale. |