Eileen Gray – Saving Her Modernist Villa – E-1027
Association Cap Moderne: restoring and promoting E-1027 through Crowdfunding
As part of Association Cap Moderne’s overall funding campaign, they will be launching a Crowdfunding campaign through Indiegogo on Tuesday, 11th September 2018: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/irish-female-bisexual-genius. It will run for 60 days.
They hope to raise enough money to bring Eileen Gray’s house (E-1027) back to its former glory. The house is listed as an historic monument and, as such, all donations towards its approved restoration will be matched by the French state. They aim to raise €55,000 (€110,000 after France’s matching funds).
The restoration plans include refurnishing the dining alcove bar. At the back of the dining alcove, there is an ingenious foldable table that, when opened, transforms the corridor into a bar, which highlights Eileen’s practical dual-function design genius. Important pieces include the dining table with a built-in electric light and cork top, and a specially made lemon container (Menton lemons were a specialty of the region).
They also hope to re-create the famous Non-conformist chair. Eileen noticed that most people sit to one side in a chair and tend to turn to look over the other, so she designed the Non-conformist chair with one curved, upholstered armrest; the other armrest is simply a slanted, nickel-plated steel tube.
Over the next two years, they also aim to provide disabled access to the house.
In order to encourage donations, they will be offering some fantastic rewards to donors. Contributors to this campaign will receive specially commissioned images of the house by one of today’s most illustrious architectural and interior photographers, François Halard. François’ work includes images of homes, such as Maison de Verre, and works by some of the greatest designers and artists of the 20th century, including Louise Bourgeois, Cy Twombly, Carlo Molino, Coco Chanel, Schiaparelli and Axel Vervoordt. François will produce all images of Eileen Gray’s house and, where stated, they will be stamped limited editions.
In addition, they will be offering exclusive VIP tours of Cap Moderne, with the option of either a champagne reception or gastronomic dinner. Guests will also receive a copy of a facsimile edition of the 1929 edition of L’Architecture Vivante and Tim Benton’s book, Le Corbusier Peintre a Cap Martin.
We urge you to become a donor to this project and help restore the home of one of the most important architectural and design icons of the 20th Century. Besides helping to preserve an historical monument of international importance, Eileen Gray’s house tells the story of design and passion that fueled 20th Century Modernism.
For further information, please contact Lucy Woods: lucy@lucywoods.co.uk , +44 7977 346037
Teaser videos and the crowdfunding video can be viewed on the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxQd_O2GXwchmmqXt7oihDg/featured