PRESS DOSSIER On the terrace of the Etoile de Mer : Le Corbusier, his wife Yvonne, Jean Badovici and Robert Rebutato as a child. 26 JUNE INAUGUR20A 15 - TION OF CAP MODERNE Three emblematic architectural achievements on an outstanding natural site at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin (Alpes Maritimes, France) 26 JUNE 2015: INAUGURATION OF THE CAP MODERNE SITE 2 E-1027 EILEEN GRAY AND JEAN BADOVICI’S VILLA (1927-1929) LE CABANON AND HOLIDAY COTTAGES LE CORBUSIER’S SEASIDE-HOLIDAY ARCHITECTURE(1951 & 1957) L’ÉTOILE DE MER THOMAS REBUTATO’S BAR-RESTAURANT (1949) At Roquebrune-Cap-Martin on the their efforts to ensure that the villa can at Since September 2014, the Cap French Riviera, just across the bay from last be opened up to the public. Moderne Association has been charged Monaco, there is a remarkable collection The official inauguration will take place by the Conservatoire du littoral with the of buildings, now known as “Cap on 26 June, though the site will be open management and development of the Moderne”, comprising Eileen Gray’s Villa to visitors as a full preview from May 1 st . site. Cap Moderne, which arose from E-1027, Le Corbusier’s Cabanon and From this date, access will be possible to a rapprochement between the Eileen holiday cottages and the Etoile de Mer every part of the site; however, given its Gray–Le Corbusier Endowment Fund bar-restaurant. extremely fragile condition, only guided and the Eileen Gray- Étoile de Mer- This is a site of major importance in tours of small groups of visitors will be Le Corbusier Association, is chaired by the history of 20 th century architecture, allowed, and exclusively by prior booking Michael Likierman, with Robert Rebutato to which the international scientific on the website www.capmoderne.com as vice-chairman. The association works community has devoted numerous in close collaboration with the studies and publications, which now A subsequent major event will be Conservatoire du littoral, the town enjoys twofold protection as both a the ceremony commemorating of Roquebrune-Cap Martin, and the Historic Building and a site of the 50 th anniversary of Le Corbusier’s Le Corbusier Foundation, and under the outstanding beauty, and which now death on 27 August. supervision of the DRAC PACA (Regional belongs to the Conservatoire du Littoral. department for the Conservation The appeal of this collection of examples From 2 November, the site will again be of Historic Monuments and the French of holiday-by-the-sea architecture is closed to visitors. Further phases of work architectural review board), from which further enhanced by the fact that it will commence on the restoration of the it receives valuable advice and subsidies comprises rare examples of murals buildings and gardens and on the appropriate to listed buildings and sites. painted by Le Corbusier himself, who, creation of new visitor facilities in time it will be recalled with some poignancy, for the summer of 2016. The work completed so far has required died on the next-door Cabbé beach the mobilisation of substantial financial on 27 August 1965. resources (over 1 million euros). Yet more Villa E-1027 was purchased in 1999 major investment still needs to be The Cabanon, the Etoile de Mer and by the Conservatoire du littoral (already committed for a range of projects the holiday cottages have been owner of the Cabanon since 1979), including building and garden accessible to visitors for several years, thanks substantially to the efforts restoration, and the creation of new but E-1027, which has been the subject and financial support of the town amenities and facilities for visitors. of a major restoration campaign since of Roquebrune-Cap Martin, which 2007, has only on rare and exceptional continues its’ full support of the current In support of these projects occasions been opened to the public. project. The following year, the family the Cap Moderne Endowment Fund With the completion of the first phase of Robert Rebutato, son of the founder welcomes contributions from of works, and given that the year 2015 of the Etoile de Mer, himself an architect benefactors and sponsors, whether they will be marked by the commemoration and a friend and associate of be individuals or businesses. Note that of the 50 th anniversary of Le Corbusier’s Le Corbusier, donated the Etoile du Mer all donations are tax-deductible. death, all the parties involved in the and the holiday cottages to the restoration of E-1027 have stepped up Conservatoire du littoral so that the unity of the site might be preserved. For any further information about Cap Moderne, guided tours, and details of how to become a sponsor, go to www.capmoderne.com 26 JUNE 2015: INAUGURATION OF THE CAP MODERNE SITE 3 E-1027 A HOUSE BY THE SEA Between 1926 and 1929, Eileen Gray blue skies of the Riviera, she at first canvas awnings, lifebuoy and chromatic built the villa E-1027 with her partner, envisaged a refuge where she and variations, it uses the analogy with the the architect Jean Badovici – E for Eileen, Badovici could work in complete tranquil - nautical world in order to reinvent the 10 for the letter J of Jean, 2 for the B of lity. But under Jean’s influence, the idea seaside holiday. Associating her sensitiv - Badovici, and 7 for the G of Gray. The evolved into a home where they could ity to modern ideals, Eileen Gray name of the villa thus incorporates their entertain their friends. By its architec - enriches it with shutters borrowed from initials. Though they were to share it for ture, its furnishings and furniture, lighting vernacular architecture. only a short time, Jean was to remain its and decoration, E-1027, ‘a house by the This villa built on stilts, with its flat roof, owner until his death in 1956. sea’, is designed to be a living organism reinforced-concrete structure and hol - and serve as a kind of manifesto. In the low-brick walls, needed to be harmo - A new architectural aesthetic special issue of ‘L ’Architecture Vivante’ niously integrated in its environment so Chareau, Van Doesburg, Rietveld, Mallet devoted to the villa in 1929, Eileen Gray Eileen sited it on the lower limit of the ter - Stevens, Le Corbusier, Gropius... At the wrote an article subtly criticising the races, just above the rocky area which dawn of the 20 th century, against a back - functionalism of modern architecture. plunges down towards the sea. Thus the ground of industrialisation and technical garden extends the intimacy of the villa progress, architects and artists devised The exterior by varying the ambience to the north and a modern aesthetic. Eileen Gray, thanks Like a liner anchored against the hillside to the south-west. On the south-west side to her travels and the articles by Jean terraces, in which the drawing room, rest - facing the sea it becomes an outdoor liv - Badovici, editor of “Architecture ing on stilts, enjoys an open plan, a bal - ing space sheltered from the wind by the Vivante”, knew of these developments cony and picture windows magnifying pine trees. To the north Eileen took when she came to tackle her first archi - the views, E-1027 is an icon of modern advantage of the shade to install an out - tectural creation in 1926. Under the architecture. Its position, its roof topped side kitchen. by a lantern encased in glass, its railings, PRESS DOSSIER 26 JUNE 2015: INAUGURATION OF THE CAP MODERNE SITE 4 The interior, open and intimate off, there is an alcove with a small divan frame sofa, the flying tables, the ’Marine Eileen spent three years drawing the and, opposite, the bar/dining area. d’abord’ rug in the guest room and the plans and designing the furniture. The During the restoration of the Villa clever circular chrome and bedside table 120 m 2 surface area is an L shape on two (2007), which was entrusted to the chief (called the E-1027 table) whose height levels. On the upper ground floor architect for Historic Monuments Pierre- can be adjusted by a little steel chain. (90 m 2), she laid out the entrance hall, Antoine Gatier, a polychrome composi - Other items of furniture are built in such the multi-purpose and convertible open- tion was discovered on the north wall as the bedhead of the little divan in the plan living room, a bedroom-studio, a of the living room. Before publishing her main room, with its pillow cupboard, its bathroom, shower room, lavatory, and article on the villa in ‘Architecture blue bedside lamp and electric sockets. kitchen with movable partitions. A spiral Vivante’ in 1929, Eileen Gray had Next to it there is a mobile reading table staircase leads down to the lower ground already abandoned this initial decorat - on a folding metal arm floor to the guest room and servants’ ing idea in favour of plain white. quarters. A covered area (55 m 2) is left The Le Corbusier paintings empty above the stilts to evoke a sea voy - The interior and the furniture During his two stays at the villa in 1938 age against the horizon. Was the accor - The Villa is small but Eileen believed that and 1939, Le Corbusier, with Badovici’s dion structure in front of the bay windows everyone should be able to remain ’free encouragement painted seven murals. inspired by the screens that Eileen and independent’ and store everything in According to Eileen Gray’s biographers, designed in her younger Art Deco a minimum amount of space. This con - these murals were not at all to her taste.