Twin Villas

Villa Parisienne and Villa Française do not face the Channel but are located a block away from the sea-front esplanade which is visible at the top of the street next to Villa Parisienne.

These villas are good examples of the Art Nouveau style popular at the turn of the 20th century in resort towns along the Normandy and Picardie coast and the brick construction popular in the north of France.

Although both were designed by architect Edouard-Jean Niermans in the first decade of the 20th century, at present the color schemes of the ornamental woodwork diametrically differ. Whereas Villa Française's woodwork is painted in earth browns and reds which blend into the brick of the façade, Villa Parisienne's carved balconies, window trim and shutters are in deep forest green with leaf green detailing stand out from the red brick façade.

Shore Front Villas and Cottages

Typical of the turn of the century villas along the Esplanade du Général Leclerc is the building composed of three attached houses: Le Tourbillon, Le Crépuscule and Clair de Lune.

The slightly elevated ground floor provides for a small terrace as well as windows bringing light into the basement kitchens and servants' quarters in true "Upstairs, Downstairs" fashion. Below is an image of the interior of a Mers villa showing the dining room fireplace flanked by a dumbwaiter to the right.

The various levels articulate the social status of the occupants. The servants were lodged in either the basement or the garret. The levels below the garret were for children and guests, below them were the parents and the ground floor was used for reception and living areas. The master bedroom is marked by an arched and carved bow-window. In addition to the carved and painted wooden details, the decor of the façade is made up of colored bricks and applied architectural ceramics such as the cartouches with the names of the villas and the cabochons below the windows.

Villas along the Esplanade du Général Leclerc.