An ambitious project involving a narrative feature film, a documentary and final reconstruction of Eileen Gray iconic Villa E1027 in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, is in full swing, and patronage is open to lovers of modern architecture and movies.

Living area of Villa E1027 with a painting by Le Corbusier

Back in 1926-29 Irish architect Eileen Gray conceived and constructed an avant-garde villa for Jean Badovici, also an architect and editor of L’Architecture Vivante and a turbulent history unfolded over this masterpiece.  The villa has been undergoing renovation work for over five years under the supervision of the French cultural department, and the goal is to complete the works to finally open it to the public later in 2013. At the same time a film inspired by the life of Eileen Gray entitled “The Price of Desire”, directed by renowned Irish filmmaker Mary McGuckian in close collaboration with the restoration, is being shot partly on site. The film is based on the controversial story of how Eileen Gray’s powerful contribution to 20th Century architecture and design was almost entirely obliterated from history by the idiosyncratic Le Corbusier, and how her relationship with Jean Badovici further provoked a split between the two architects in both a personal and professional way. The objective of this project is to increase the Art Department budget for the film to contribute to the restoration effort while serving the purpose of the movie. At the same time the restoration work will be followed by and featured in a documentary entitled “Gray Matters” by Monaco resident filmmaker Marco Orsini. You can be part of history in the making by contributing to this project and enabling the remarkable and scientific full restoration of the villa inside and out, as its architect originally conceived it and as narrated by the film that will set the facts straight and recognize Eileen Gray’s contribution to modern architecture and design. Together we can bring Villa E1027 back to its original splendour and help us push the doors wide open to the public as a final show of gratitude to Eileen Gray.

Please check out Eileen Gray E1027 Villa, Maison en Bord De Mer on www.kickstarter.com or visit http://bit.ly/EGE1027

View from the Villa

Photos by Celina Lafuente de Lavotha at Villa E1027:

See Interview with Filmmaker Mary McGuckian