E-1027 (Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France) 1926-29
E-1027 (Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France) 1926-29
E-1027 is a modernist villa in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin in France. It was designed by an Irish architect and furniture designer Eileen Gray. She was also considered a pioneer of the modern movement in architecture. The E-1027 is considered her first major work. This is an open and closed house at the same time, creating a border between architecture and decoration. The building is an L-shaped and has a flat roof with floor to ceiling windows. The name of the house, E-1027 is a code of Eileen Gray and Jean Badovici. E standing for Eileen, 10 for Jean, 2 for Badovici, and 7 for gray. The name was her way of showing her relationship with Jean Badovici as lovers. Unfortunately, they separated shortly after the completion of the house.
Gray wanted to build a house that interacted with natural elements around her. She studied the wind and the angle of sun at different times of the day and year. Knowing this information, she was able to build her structure. The structure is raised on slender white columns. The white walls, strong horizontality, and decks make it seem like a boat docked floating between landscape and sea.
Gray created a villa with an open and flexible design, allowing the occupant to experience the space of life as an organic whole to the house and the outside environment. At the same time, the designs allow the occupant to maintain a sense of intimacy and privacy. The E-1027 made a unique and vital contribution to modern architecture.
The design also seemed to take shape around the furniture and the way its occupants would move in physical space. She created guest rooms and nooks that allowed for retreat and privacy. She also created tiny windows that were positioned to spectacular views.
Le Corbusier and Eileen Gray didn’t really meet eye to eye. Le Corbusier was a friend of Badovivi and visited the house several times after the broke up. While staying as a guest in 1938 and 1939, Le Corbusier painted bright murals on the walls of the E-1027 house. This disrespect onto her design infuriated Gray, who considered the murals as vandalism. Le Corbusier became intricately tied with the future of the house. Since he was not able to purchase the house, he eventually bought a piece of property just east of the E-1027, where he built a small, rustic cabin. He used the cabin to relax and would take daily baths on its beaches. After his death in the same waters, the area was declared as "Space Modern" and was considered and area of cultural and historical importance as well as the house of E-1027.
E-1027 is currently undergoing restoration. Gray's original furniture has been removed from the house and was sold in the early 1990s at an auction house. Plans for the renovation are being prepared by a French government, who have designated it as a French National Cultural Monument. By 2013 the restoration had cost about $800,000 dollars. In 2016, the Getty foundation contributed a $200,000 grant to the ongoing restoration work.
Sources
Sources
E-1027 House - Data, Photos & Plans.” WikiArquitectura,en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/e-1027-house/.
Garner, Philippe and Eileen Gray. Eileen Gray : Design and Architecture, 1878-1976. Köln : Benedikt Taschen Verlag, c1993., 1993.
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