Eileen Grey and the modernist masterpiece

Although Eileen Gray rarely signed her works, there is an unmistakable elegance and subtlety about them. They are rigorous and well-balanced, often solving an unusual practical problem - a testament to Gray's own way of living and resolving limitations.
This approach is reflected in the architecture. The house itself is fairly simple, a white rectangular box of 132 square metres resting on concrete pillars. But on the inside, these squares are fully utilised.

This is also true of the external environment, where you can discover several odd features. Such as the 'winter solarium', a tiled, pool-like formation sunk half a metre into the ground. In this conservatory, Gray socialised with his guests during the winter, where they - stretched out on the tiles - caught the rays of the winter sun and drank cocktails. It may seem strange today, but in the 1920s and 30s, sunbathing was one of the cornerstones of healthy living.

In this conservatory, Gray socialised with his guests during the winter, where they - stretched out on the tiles - caught the winter sun's rays and drank cocktails.

Today the villa is owned by the French state and managed by a foundation. When it was taken over, E-1027 had not been well looked after, it had fallen into neglect and was in dire need of restoration, which was done with great care and donations. As a result, several interesting details have emerged - such as the leather letterbox. A replica of the letterbox, made by Hermès, was recently sold at auction and is now said to be in the possession of the Prince of Monaco.

From the outside, the body of the house looks like a boat stranded on the rocks. This marine inspiration is reinforced by a lifebuoy on the façade and the colour scheme of the rooms in soft navy blue, burgundy, white and a grey-beige scale. An airy atmosphere with lots of geometry and line work.

Gray was a generous hostess who often lent her villa to guests. One of these was the Swiss-French architect and polymath Le Corbusier, who created several large murals in the villa in startlingly grey colours. Something that doesn't quite harmonise with the otherwise well thought-out colour and material palette.

Another person who often lived in the guest room was Eileen's sister, Thora, who had the habit of eating her breakfast in bed. This inspired the designer to create the design that became her most successful: Adjustable Table E-1027.

The ingenious side table, which can be slid in over a bed or seating furniture, was completed in 1927 but had been designed and adjusted with prototypes over a three-year period. The design consists of a chrome-plated tubular steel frame with an open base and a height-adjustable crystal top, which allows it to be used as a side table, dining table or bar table.

It is said that Gray was so pleased with the table that it was the only piece of furniture she later took with her when she left her home in Roquebrun for an apartment in Paris.

Function was central to Gray's design methodology, combined with a sophisticated eye for detail and line. Inspiration can sometimes be derived from an unexpectedly humorous direction, such as the Bibendum armchair, which takes its name and shape from the Michelin man's soft belly rings.

Eileen Gray

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Roattino Floor Lamp

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Occasional Table Round

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