A commemorative plaque honouring Irish architect and designer Eileen Gray was unveiled at Cap Moderne on Wednesday 28th October in the presence of Prince Albert II, marking a century since work began on Villa E-1027 and the approaching 50th anniversary of her death.
Held alongside Roquebrune-Cap-Martin Mayor Patrick Cesari, the ceremony celebrated the woman whose vision shaped the seaside villa, from its architecture and furniture to the smallest details of daily life.
Organiser and Cap Moderne board member Robert Mulcahy said the tribute began with a conversation over lunch in June, when he suggested naming a street or public space after Gray. With two significant anniversaries falling this year, those discussions developed into Wednesday’s commemoration.
A century since work began on E-1027
Built between 1926 and 1929, E-1027 was Gray’s first architectural project, designed in collaboration with Romanian architect Jean Badovici on a steep coastal plot below the railway at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
In his address, Mulcahy cited research by Renaud Barré, who has spent 25 years studying the villa and is preparing a book for publication in April 2027. According to that research, Badovici requested a water supply for the construction site before the summer of 1926, while the house was declared complete on 30th July 1929.
The centenary therefore marks the beginnings of the project. Its name encodes the pair’s initials: E for Eileen, 10 for Jean’s J, the tenth letter of the alphabet, 2 for Badovici’s B and 7 for Gray’s G.
Gray approached the house as a complete living environment, designing furniture, lighting and interiors around the needs of its occupants. That attention to how people actually lived was central to her work across architecture and design.
Preserving Gray’s legacy
Born in County Wexford in 1878, Gray developed her career through painting, lacquer work, furniture and textiles before turning to architecture. Beyond E-1027, her houses included Tempe à Pailla at Castellar, overlooking Menton.
The survival of E-1027 required a substantial preservation effort. Acquired by the Conservatoire du littoral in 1999 after falling into serious disrepair, the villa underwent restoration intended to return it to its original 1929 appearance. The work was completed in 2021.
Mulcahy acknowledged Michael Likierman’s leadership of the Cap Moderne restoration project, whose honorary committee was presided over by Prince Albert.
Looking ahead to the 150th anniversary of Gray’s birth in 2028, Mulcahy also proposed an Eileen Gray Education Foundation. He envisaged practical programmes, teaching resources and opportunities for architecture and design students, inviting supporters to help develop the initiative.
Recognition for Robert Mulcahy
During the ceremony, Prince Albert II presented Mulcahy with a medal recognising his public service, philanthropy and support for culture. Mulcahy also presented the Prince with a miniature version of the commemorative plaque.
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin Mayor Patrick Cesari, who also addressed the gathering, spoke warmly of the friendship between the town and the Principality.
Further tributes in Paris
Wednesday’s unveiling came three days before the anniversary of Gray’s death in Paris on 31st October 1976.
Mulcahy said further commemorations would include an Irish Embassy reception on Thursday 29th October and a private ceremony at Père-Lachaise cemetery on Saturday 31st October. A niche and a plaque matching the design unveiled at Cap Moderne are due to be unveiled there.
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Main photo credit: Frederick Duchesne