To this day the gardens and grounds of old seaside houses bear witness to what the French Riviera was like before it became so densely urbanized. They are magnificent properties that are worthy of being protected for their symbolic and cultural value. The Conservatoire du littoral is endeavouring to preserve these natural areas that bear such a deep imprint of man's presence. But because they have become so popular they needed to be carefully managed by the local authorities.
Cap Martin is the smallest site acquired by the Conservatoire since its inception, less than one hectare. And yet it is doubtless one of the most original and iconic.
The task of safeguarding the Eileen Gray-Le Corbusier site has been for the Conservatoire an unusual adventure on account of both the exceptional fact of acquiring a group of seaside properties, now designated Historic Monuments, and the relationship that has evolved over the years with the last witnesses of a bygone age, people with a passion for architecture, and the public and private institutions so keenly aware of the need to protect such an exceptional heritage.
An ambitious restoration programme was launched in 2007 with the participation of the chief architect for Historic Monuments, Pierre-Antoine GATIER. An exemplary partnership was set up involving the Ministry of Culture, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin town council, the Alpes Maritimes Departmental Council, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regional Council, the Association for the protection of the Eileen Gray-Le Corbusier site, the Le Corbusier Foundation, the Lafarge group and a number of private sponsors with a passionate interest in architecture.
The Conservatoire's involvement will ensure the long-term conservation of this coastal property and its rich architectural and cultural heritage. The Cap-Martin site forms just part of the 30 000 hectares, including 60 sites and covering 110 kilometers of coastline, definitively safeguarded by the Conservatoire du littoral in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
Délégation Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Bastide Beaumanoir
3, Rue Marcel Arnaud 13100 Aix-en-Provence
Tél : 04 42 91 64 10 -
Fax : 04 42 91 64 11
paca@conservatoire-du-littoral.fr
www.conservatoire-du-littoral.fr
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin town has been actively involved in protecting the site ever since it was purchased by the Conservatoire du Littoral. With support from the government, the Regional and Departmental Councils, the Lafarge Foundation and the Le Corbusier Foundation it has lead-managed the large-scale restoration work which is still in progress today.
22 avenue Paul Doumer
06190 Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Tél. +33 (0)4 92 10 48 48
Fax : +33 (0)4 92 10 48 49
www.roquebrune-cap-martin.com
The site enjoys protected status as a listed historic monument, so the relevant government departments (CRMAH and STAP 06) consider its applications for planning permission, inspect the development work carried out and allocate substantial subsidies.
23, bd du Roi René 13617 Aix-en-Provence Cedex 1
Tel. 04 42 16 19 00
e-mail : cliquer ici
Conservation Régionale des Monuments Historiques et STAP 06
The Council for the Alpes Maritimes department makes regular contributions to the Cap Moderne site.
147 boulevard du Mercantour - B.P 3007
06201 Nice Cedex 3
Tel. : 04.97.18.60.00
27,place Jules Guesde
13481 Marseille Cedex 20
Tél : 04.91.57.50.57 / Fax : 04.91.57.51.51
As the rights-holder for Le Corbusier's work, the Le Corbusier Foundation is a leading partner of Cap Moderne in terms of scientific, technical and documentary collaboration. Its contribution is absolutely essential. The Foundation coordinated the application to UNESCO for inclusion of Le Corbusier's work on the list of World Heritage Sites, of which the Cabanon and the Holiday Cabins at Roquebrune Cap Martin form part.
8/10, square du Docteur Blanche - 75016 PARIS, France
Tel : +33 01 42 88 41 53 - Fax : +33 01 42 88 33 17
www.fondationlecorbusier.fr
The Eileen Gray.Etoile de Mer.Le Corbusier association is composed of persons who are concerned for the future of Cap Moderne and is actively involved in protecting and enhancing the beauty of the site. It was set up when the Conservatoire du Littoral, which already owned the Le Corbusier's cabanon, bought Villa E.1027 and was gifted the Rebutatos' property the Etoile de Mer, including the Holiday Cabins.
"The aim of the Association is to participate in the safeguard, restoration, maintenance and enhancement of the architectural, artistic and landscaping heritage which the Cap Moderne site at Roquebrune (Alpes Maritimes) represents."
Main activities :
Its members include numerous architects and eminent professors of history and architecture. The Board of Trustees is composed of the following: Magda Rebutato, Tim Benton, professor of Art History at Cambridge (UK), Maria Salerno, architect, Jean-Michel Bossu, architect, Alain Baillon, designer, Vincent Bertaud du Chazaud, architect, Christine Desmoulins, architecture critic, Manuel Bougot, photographer, Francis Ferrero, and Pascal and Brigitte Lacerenza.
www.eileengray-etoiledemer-lecorbusier.org
Villa E-1027 was acquired by Conservatoire du littoral (already owner of the Cabanon since 1979) in 1999, partly thanks to the endeavours of and a financial contribution from Roquebrune-Cap Martin town. The following year the family of Robert Rebutato, son of the founder of the Etoile de Mer, and himself an architect, friend and assistant of Le Corbusier, donated the Etoile de Mer and the Holiday Cabins to the Conservatoire du littoral in the interests of preserving the unity of the site. They retain the usufruit of the property but have agreed that tour groups may enter the terrace of the Etoile de Mer and one of the Holiday Cabins.
This Endowment Fund was set up in 2014 to enable any natural or legal person wishing to make a donation towards the conservation and development of the site to enjoy tax relief under the relevant French law on sponsorship. The Endowment Fund is a founder member of the Cap Moderne Association.
For further information send an email to : contact@capmoderne.com
The Eileen Gray - Le Corbusier Foundation at Cap-Martin
The Eileen Gray - Le Corbusier Foundation at Cap-Martin is currently being set up. It will be placed under the auspices of the Fondation Bullukian. The Eileen Gray - Le Corbusier Foundation at Cap-Martin may also receive donations and bequests from any natural or legal person wishing to support the conservation and development of the site. It is worth noting that any donation to the Eileen Gray - Le Corbusier Foundation at Cap-Martin qualifies for relief from French wealth tax (ISF), in accordance with the law on sponsorship. To make a donation please write to : contact@capmoderne.com
or to the Fondation Bullukian specifying that your donation should be assigned to the Eileen Gray Le Corbusier Cap Martin Foundation. A special account has been opened for this purpose at the fondation Bullukian. Send an email to : contact@bullukian.com
ARAM made a very substantial contribution to the renovation of Villa E-1027.
In 1973 Eileen Gray granted an exclusive licence to Aram Designs to manufacture and market her designs worldwide. This is the only licence Eileen Gray ever granted.
After granting the licence, Eileen Gray collaborated closely with Zeev Aram to produce prototypes of her designs before launching production on an industrial scale. These designs have been available to buy ever since.
Between 1940 and 1970, Eileen Gray was ignored and virtually forgotten by the design world. ARAM Designs is proud to note that the efforts made since the 1970s to introduce and promote her designs on the world market have led to Eileen Gray being viewed today as one of the most important and influential architects and designers of the 20th century.
Eileen Gray's designs are today exhibited in numerous permanent museum collections and several recently published books and articles have emphasized the significance of her contribution to 20th century design and architecture.
Zeev Aram and Aram Designs are very proud to have been able to contribute to the renovation of Villa E1027 by donating several of Eileen Gray's creations.
www.aram.co.uk et www.eileengray.co.uk
The Friends of E-1027 association
other sponsors who prefer to remain anonymous.
Cap Moderne also enjoys indirect sponsorship from the Conservatoire du littoral : www.conservatoire-du-littoral
It should also be noted that Lafarge contributed know-how to the renovation of Villa E-1027.
If you wish to make a donation, and become involved in the Cap Moderne project by becoming a sponsor, you may qualify for tax relief of up to 60% (businesses) or 66% (private individuals) of the amount donated, in accordance with the French law of 2003 on sponsorship. Please send an email to : contact@capmoderne.com
Sponsorship contact
Michael Likierman
téléphone : +33 (0) 6 09 11 27 65 e-mail : michael@likierman.net
See the page "Making a Donation"
Cap Moderne has the great fortune of enjoying the support of some extremely prominent persons who are members of its Committee of Honour. The Committee is chaired by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Cap Moderne enjoys the scientific support of numerous researchers, several of whom are members of the Association’s Scientific Committee.
The Scientific Committee of Cap Moderne is composed of the following members:
Jean-Louis Cohen (President), Professor of the history of architecture, Institute of Fine Arts at New York University, NYU, New York, guest Professor of the Collège de France
Bernard Bauchet, architect, member of the National Committee on Historic Monuments, member of the committee of experts of the Le Corbusier Foundation
Jean-Lucien Bonillo, architect and historian, Professor at the School of Architecture, Marseille
Agnès Cailliau, architect and president of DOCOMOMO
Olivier Cinqualbre, architect, curator of the National Museum of Modern Art
François Goven, Inspector-General of historic monuments
Maria Gravari-Barbas, architect, Professor of Geography, Director of IREST (Institut de Recherche et d'Études Supérieures du Tourisme) Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne, Director of the UNESCO Chair on "Culture, Tourism and Development", Coordinator of the network UNITWIN UNESCO "Culture, Tourism and Development",
Isabelle Lefort, geographer, senior member at the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Professor of geography at the University of Lyon, responsible for postgraduate studies in Leisure, Tourism and Heritage
Mary McLeod, Professor of Architecture, Colombia University, New York
Arthur Rüegg, architect, writer, past Professor ETH Zurich
Wilfried Wang, architect, writer, Professor at the School of Architecture, University of Austin, Texas, Deputy Director of the Architecture Section, Academy of the Arts, Berlin.
The secretary of the scientific committee is Tim Benton, Emeritus Professor of Art History (Open University - England) who is also a member of the Association Eileen Gray - Etoile de Mer - LeCorbusier.
One of the topics under consideration by the Scientific Committee is the PSC (scientific and cultural project) which lays down the framework for development of the site. The PSC was drawn up, at Cap Moderne’s request, under the direction of Guillemette Gardette, head of the cultural consultancy agency Médiéval-AFDP and by Tim Benton, Emeritus Professor of art history (Open University - England) and member of the Eileen Gray - Etoile de Mer - Le Corbusier Association, and with a contribution from Philippe Deliau head of the landscaping consultants Atelier Lieux et Paysages ALEP and Claudia Devaux, architect for heritage with the David Devaux Architects agency.
In scientific terms, the Le Corbusier Foundation constitutes a partner of prime importance. This Foundation is coordinating the application for the inscription on Unesco’s List of World Heritage Sites of Le Corbusier’s Architectural Work. The Cabanon at Roquebune-Cap-Martin already features on this list. Moreover, the Le Corbusier Foundation, with the ADAGP, has granted Cap Moderne the right to use the visuals of Le Corbusier’s work.
Other scientists have made contributions too. Among them we should mention the very considerable contributions by Renaud Barrès, as well as those made by Claude Prelorenzo, Bruno Chiambretto, Pierre-Antoine Gatier, Bénédicte Gandini, Marie-Odile Hubert, Peter Adam, Nerte Fustier-Dautier, Monique Baillon, Jean-Michel Bossu and Eric de Backer. We must also mention the contributions from university workshops such as that held in 2008-2009 with the participation of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale of Lausanne, the Academy of Architecture of Mendrisio and the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'architecture of Marseille.
Robert Jourdan (regional curator for Historic Monuments), Yves Cranga (curator), Christophe Curial (conservation officer) and Luc Albouy (architect with Bâtiments de France) also make scientific and technical contributions whenever an appraisal is needed for rehabilitation operations carried out on the site.