architecture and e-1027

Influenced by Badovici, Gray began to study avant-garde art and architecture with the support of Polish architect Adrienne Górska. Her style of furniture design evolved towards clean lines, metal, and glass. In 1926 Gray began work on a villa on the Mediterranean called E-1027.

The name is an acronym for the initials of Eileen and Jean Badovici: E for Eileen, 10 and 2 representing initials J and B, and 7 for G—her surname, Gray. It’s said that the name of the villa represents the embrace Gray gives to Badovici, and thus she turned away from the cold, machine-like attitude more typical of the avant-garde. It is also rumored that E-1027 is a subtle architectural pun against Le Corbusier.