After Eileen Gray left the villa in 1932, Le Corbusier spent a few weeks there in 1937. In April 1938, encouraged by Jean Badovici, he painted two murals in the villa, and returned the following year to paint another five. These are beautifully restored and kept alive by the team at Cap Moderne.
After our wander through E-1027, we walked a few steps up into 'Etoile de Mer' and Corbusier's Le Cabanon. Connected by a small boat-like door, Corbusier's cabin provided great inspiration with its lowered roof for storage, eliminating the need for cupboards in the space's small footprint. While Etoile de Mer, created with his fisherman friend, served as Corbusier's communal kitchen and bar. Both offered a view across the sea, waters that Corbusier would swim each day, eventually taking his life.