The Painter Le Corbusier: Eileen Gray’s Villa E 1027 and Le Cabanon

In 1929, Eileen Gray designed Villa E 1027 for herself and her youthful partner Jean Badovici, but only lived there for three years. Today, the elegant house in Roquebrune-Cap-Mar- tin in southern France is an icon of modernism. In 1937, Le Corbusier discovered the place and the “Maison en Bord de Mer”.

Inspired by the genius of the place and the light on the Côte d’Azur, he created a total of eight large-format wall paintings there in 1938 and 1939 onwards, some of which complement the building congenially, while others set counterpoints. In 1952, he built his Cabanon nearby and decorated it with murals as well. The book by the well-known architectural historian Tim Benton documents Le Corbusier’s artwork at this special place, explores its controversies, and places it in his overall oeuvre.

The fascinating photographs by Manuel Bougot capture the special atmosphere of the villa Le Corbusier’s painting is lesser known but was formative for his lifelong preoccupation with polychromy After extensive renovation work until 2021, E 1027, as well as the Cabanon, is open to the public again