The author’s museum Lilac Puncher or The Javanese is he out of the woods? Located at 5 bis rue de Verneuil (Paris VII), the house of Serge Gainsbourg (1928-1991) was transformed into a museum in September 2023. The artist lived there for 22 years, until his death. The place, labeled “Maison des Illustres”, was a great success with some 120,000 visitors in the first year.
But despite support from public and private partners, including an agreement with the Yves Saint-Laurent house, financial difficulties quickly emerged. The operation of the museum would have suffered from numerous unpaid bills. In September 2024, the operating company SEHPSGA, founded by Charlotte Gainsbourg and real estate developer Dominique Dutreix, was placed in receivership by the Paris commercial court. There is also a dispute between Charlotte Gainsbourg (54 years old) and her partner, Dominique Dutreix (Coffim company).
At the end of 2025, several takeover offers were examined by the commercial court. On January 8, 2026, the court validated the offer of the Avoda group (Philippe Dabi’s holding company) to take over the operating company. The offer was for 850,000 euros and covered all of the museum’s assets.
Doctor, businessman, director of the Bioclinic group (medical biology laboratory), and friend of Charlotte Gainsbourg, Philippe Dabi is therefore officially responsible for taking over the operation of the museum. The court dismissed former partner Dominique Dutreix, who appealed the decision. The court authorizes Charlotte Gainsbourg to retain a stake in the new structure.
