Signs of Memory: Le Corbusier’s Drawings at Villa E.1027

Design, beauty, the ethical question, aesthetics: all these terms are present in the story of Le Corbusier's drawings on the walls of Eileen Gray's villa E1027. Seven drawings were painted by Le Corbusier on the interior and exterior walls without her knowledge. They are drawings of consid...

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Main Author: Daniela Pittaluga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Athens Institute for Education and Research 2024-04-01
Series:Athens Journal of Architecture
Online Access:https://www.athensjournals.gr/architecture/2024-10-2-1-Pittaluga.pdf
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author Daniela Pittaluga
author_facet Daniela Pittaluga
author_sort Daniela Pittaluga
collection DOAJ
description Design, beauty, the ethical question, aesthetics: all these terms are present in the story of Le Corbusier's drawings on the walls of Eileen Gray's villa E1027. Seven drawings were painted by Le Corbusier on the interior and exterior walls without her knowledge. They are drawings of considerable size and in very vivid colours and the author is undoubtedly one of the people who changed the culture of the 20th century. On the other hand, Gray's villa is also considered today one of the masterpieces of modern architecture: it is essential in its lines and colours and every detail has been carefully thought out and designed. The situation that arose with the inclusion of Le Corbusier's wall paintings poses many questions for those involved in Restoration. According to some lines of thought every intervention is a trace and as such it has its own meaning it tells a piece of history and as such it deserves to be preserved. In this specific case, however, Le Corbusier's brightly coloured drawings completely change the perception of the villa's spaces. In this case the preservation of a trace, no matter how significant it may be, has the power to change and cause the loss of the basic idea of this villa: preservation causes loss. This story therefore brings an important reflection on the role of conservation, on the ethics of restoration and also on the power that a drawing on a wall can have.
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spelling doaj-art-61220b9e99b149a28a18286cbc0539ed2024-12-28T15:26:46ZengAthens Institute for Education and ResearchAthens Journal of Architecture2407-94722024-04-0110212715210.30958/aja.10-2-1Signs of Memory: Le Corbusier’s Drawings at Villa E.1027 Daniela Pittaluga0Associate Professor, University of Genoa, ItalyDesign, beauty, the ethical question, aesthetics: all these terms are present in the story of Le Corbusier's drawings on the walls of Eileen Gray's villa E1027. Seven drawings were painted by Le Corbusier on the interior and exterior walls without her knowledge. They are drawings of considerable size and in very vivid colours and the author is undoubtedly one of the people who changed the culture of the 20th century. On the other hand, Gray's villa is also considered today one of the masterpieces of modern architecture: it is essential in its lines and colours and every detail has been carefully thought out and designed. The situation that arose with the inclusion of Le Corbusier's wall paintings poses many questions for those involved in Restoration. According to some lines of thought every intervention is a trace and as such it has its own meaning it tells a piece of history and as such it deserves to be preserved. In this specific case, however, Le Corbusier's brightly coloured drawings completely change the perception of the villa's spaces. In this case the preservation of a trace, no matter how significant it may be, has the power to change and cause the loss of the basic idea of this villa: preservation causes loss. This story therefore brings an important reflection on the role of conservation, on the ethics of restoration and also on the power that a drawing on a wall can have. https://www.athensjournals.gr/architecture/2024-10-2-1-Pittaluga.pdf
spellingShingle Daniela Pittaluga
Signs of Memory: Le Corbusier’s Drawings at Villa E.1027
Athens Journal of Architecture
title Signs of Memory: Le Corbusier’s Drawings at Villa E.1027
title_full Signs of Memory: Le Corbusier’s Drawings at Villa E.1027
title_fullStr Signs of Memory: Le Corbusier’s Drawings at Villa E.1027
title_full_unstemmed Signs of Memory: Le Corbusier’s Drawings at Villa E.1027
title_short Signs of Memory: Le Corbusier’s Drawings at Villa E.1027
title_sort signs of memory le corbusier s drawings at villa e 1027
url https://www.athensjournals.gr/architecture/2024-10-2-1-Pittaluga.pdf
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