Villa E.1027

„E.1027 – Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea” is a fascinating film that illuminates the extraordinary life, work, and legacy of the Irish designer and architect Eileen Gray. The film focuses on the famous house E.1027, long mistakenly attributed to the Swiss architect Le Corbusier, located on the French Riviera between Menton and Monaco, and considered a masterpiece of modern architecture.

Architecture – a man's world

Eileen Gray, a pioneer of the 20th century, was known for her avant-garde designs and her unique, all-encompassing approach to design and architecture. The film not only showcases her artistic achievements but also highlights the challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated world—especially in architecture and design.

Cryptic declaration of love

E.1027, the holiday home with sea access completed in 1929, was a love project of Gray and her partner, the architect and architectural critic Jean Badovici, whom she met during her time in Paris. The name of the house, E.1027, is said to be a cryptically coded declaration of love for Badovici: E stands for Eileen, 10 for the tenth letter of the alphabet (J for Jean), 2 for the second letter (B for Badovici), and 7 for the seventh letter (G for Gray). This detail underscores the great importance of the house to Gray.

Natural light sources

The film delves deeply into the architectural elements and holistic design of the house. It begins with the open floor plans, the thoughtful use and integration of natural light sources, and extends to color schemes and custom-made furniture. This, among other things, makes it clear that Gray was a visionary designer, far ahead of her time and misunderstood during her lifetime.

Gray or Le Corbusier

The film's central theme is the recognition that Gray only gradually received posthumously. During her lifetime, her work was often overlooked or attributed to other, male colleagues. It was particularly painful for Gray that Le Corbusier, a renowned modernist architect, installed murals in her house in the 1930s without her consent. This not only compromised Gray's original vision but must have felt like a theft to her. In fact, the Irish-born architect never returned to her house, despite its immense significance to her. The murals, in turn, led to the house, E.1027, even being mistakenly attributed to Le Corbusier for a time.

Based on human needs

The film weaves together historical footage, expert interviews, and reenactments based on letters and accounts to paint a comprehensive picture of Gray's life and work. The documentary illustrates how Gray's designs were not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional, addressing human needs, as exemplified by the "Non-Conformist Armchair," a chair that combines comfort and communication and, like many other furniture designs, was provided by Classicon.

Against great resistance

„E.1027 – Eileen Gray and the House by the Sea” is therefore not just a film about architecture, but also a portrait of an admirable woman who not only realized her visions but also fought against considerable resistance. It invites viewers to discover Eileen Gray's legacy and recognize her significant role in the history of modern architecture. Furthermore, the documentary serves not only the designer herself – it inspires viewers to think beyond the boundaries of their own creativity and conventions.

Photos: Olivier Martin Gambier / Peter Cavanagh