There are places where the light never changes. Not because it has been forgotten, but because it has been chosen to be preserved. The Maison de la Chimie (House of Chemistry), in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, is one such place.
Inaugurated in 1931, just eight years after the founding of the Jean Perzel Workshop, it embodies the ideal of an era: a time when Art Deco brought together architectural standards, decorative arts, and institutional ambition under one roof. Nearly a century later, Perzel’s light fixtures are still there. Some are original, others were reinstalled during successive renovations. All remain faithful to the spirit of the place.
The monumental lobby of the Maison de la Chimie
A bright first impression
The main entrance hall sets the tone. Stone columns, double staircase, skylight: the architecture reigns supreme.
In this space, the No. 341 V and No. 1137 wall lights provide discreet and precise wall lighting, following the vertical lines of the stone without ever competing with them. Their opal glass diffuses a soft light that respects the nobility of the volumes without overwhelming them.
On walls, they don’t impose themselves: they accompany. That’s precisely what we expect from institutional lighting… Present without being ostentatious, legible without being harsh.
Maison de la Chimie, Paris – Main lobby, wall lights No. 341 V et No. 1137, Atelier Jean Perzel
The Room 8
530 m² illuminated by wall lights no. 650
With its 530 m² floor space, 4.56-meter-high ceilings, and view of the private garden, the room 8 is the Maison de la Chimie’s signature reception space. It is also one of the finest examples of what a well-chosen light fixture can do in a large space.
The No. 650 wall lights punctuate the walls with regularity. Their satin glass captures and redistributes light in soft halos, creating an ambient warmth that transforms this prestigious space into a living environment. Seminars, gala dinners, exhibitions: whatever the configuration, the lighting remains just right.
Room 151 of the Maison de la Chimie
Light as architecture
On the first floor, Room 151 reveals another facet of Perzel’s presence in the building. Here, it is the No. 601 pendant lights that structure the space in depth. Their clean lines interact with the strict geometry of the ceiling. The No. 341 V wall lights on the sides complete the arrangement by providing more enveloping side lighting.
The result is a space that is both functional and generous, where light naturally guides the eye and organizes uses. This is one of the rooms where it is easiest to understand why major institutions choose Perzel: not for effect, but for consistency.
The Room 69, garden side
A suspension as a centerpiece
In Room 69, the Suspension No. 359 S takes center stage. Suspended alone above the space, it embodies all the formal elegance of Art Deco: geometric lines, frosted glass, and diffused, perfectly controlled light.
In a more intimate 56 m² space, this choice of a single piece is deliberate. The pendant light does not seek to multiply light sources: it centralizes, it structures, it suffices. This demonstrates that a single well-chosen light fixture can define the identity of an entire room… and that this is often the best solution.
A total presence, from the basement to the attic
Maison de la Chimie, Paris – Lavoisier amphitheater foyer, wall lights No. 652, Atelier Jean Perzel
Beyond these iconic spaces, it is Perzel’s omnipresence throughout the entire building that is striking. For instance, the No. 652 wall lights welcome visitors to the foyer of the Lavoisier amphitheater. The ceiling lights n°359 are installed in the meeting rooms on each floor with a regularity that is almost manifesto-like. And the ceiling lights n°350 illuminate the vast room 251 on the second floor, whose windows open onto the Eiffel Tower.
The No. 1060 wall lights illuminate Room 262 and its private foyer. The sconces No. 540 V lights watch over the upper staircases, their opaline shades guiding visitors from one floor to another with the same soft, constant light. And the pendant lights No. 341 V and No. 373 S can be found in the secondary lobby.
In total, there are more than a dozen different Perzel references coexisting in the same space. Each one has been chosen for a specific area, each contributing to the overall lighting consistency.
What the loyalty of a place says
Quand la Maison de la Chimie a entrepris ses rénovations successives, elle aurait pu tout remplacer. Changer de style, moderniser à outrance, effacer les traces du passé. Elle ne l’a pas fait.
Perzel light fixtures have remained—renovated, reinstalled, sometimes supplemented—because they belong to the place as much as its stonework and woodwork. Because a well-designed light fixture does not age: it gains depth.
C’est peut-être la plus belle reconnaissance que l’on puisse accorder à un atelier : non pas un prix, non pas une publication, mais la simple décision de conserver son travail.
