[notes on eileen gray, modern intuitive designer]

I'm embarrassed and shocked. That in my 31 years--surrounded by artists and designers, engrossed in art + architectural history classes at expensive art schools that I've never heard of Eileen Gray until this fall. Alas she was born into a man's era in 1878. She designed for 7 of the nearly 10 centuries that she lived. Imagine, such talent and diverse skill practiced for 70 years, pioneering the modern art movement yet without the education, mentoring, or recognition received by her peers: all because was a woman. 

Eileen Gray flanked by Le Corbusier and Jean Badovici

Eileen Gray's Rue de Bonaparte apartment, Paris

She was a gifted painter, lacquer artist, furniture designer, and architect (E-1027 in Roquebrune Cap Martin) whose influence was vast on the modern + art déco movements. I love that many of her designs are whimsical, sexy, funny, and simply beautiful. She had an unusual sense of atmosphere in her designs; an innate sense of negative space where a bowl or a chair or a room is inhabited by something or someone. 
That her publicly-known history is half gossip, and that she went largely unrecognized and unknown until recently is not surprising and unacceptable. The story goes like this: she was a contemporary and supposedly longtime unrequited love interest of architect Le Corbusier (who drowned while oddly swimming off the cliffs of her house in the French Mediterranean). He was and perhaps continues to be credited with many of her designs. 


The Dragon Chair was recently sold as part of Yves St. Laurent's collection for $28.3 million:

Dragon Chair Photos courtesy of Christie's

Nonconformist Chair

Transnat Chair

Transnat Chairs, Pair

She's perhaps most commonly known for her very modernist Bibendum Chair: 

Much of her work doesn't conform to the restrained army chant of modernists: "form follows function" (because sometimes design moves must be purely intuitive) like this lotus lacquered + tasseled table, benches, screens, and chaise longue below:

Rue de Lota apartment with her Pirogue chaise longue (also pictured below with lacquered screen)

Lacquered screen 

Wall painting at the house she designed, E1027 in 1926 for Jean Badovici

Dressing table

DWR should be ashamed that they only carry one mediocre modernist piece, a side table. 
Thanks to RISD professor, designer, chef Peter Tagiuri for introducing me to the intuition-driven work of this talented woman.
If you're interested in hearing my take on why it was she designed spaces so well, I'd be happy to elaborate. Thoughts? 

[notes from an umbrella grove]

400 stone steps down from the Vettica side of Praiano led me to a grove of Christo-Gates-orange beach umbrellas, sounds of dance music and rocks catching waves, and deep green pools where I spent sunup during the next week. In the absence of trees on this rocky cliff-lined coast, 50 para-sole carve a whimsical outdoor space suitable for a 40°C / 100°F summer day. 

 

The author's legs in the grove

With protection from the sun, water, a little garden, and chaises longues for sleeping, basic human needs were covered. Cold white wine, mojitos, tanned Italians, and dance music met other desires.

And then there's Claude Cormier's Sugar Beach project (brilliant) on Toronto's newly renovated waterfront. Another favorite umbrella grove, and an alternative to trees on a grassy lawn...

All images courtesy of Claude Cormier Landscape Architect

[notes from a riad courtyard]

My mother taught me a great lesson of solo travel while I was 18 and living alone in Switzerland: find one thing or place that makes you feel at home and in your own skin. Living in Dubai for two long, hot years, I came here to feel grounded and remember what was important to me. Hidden in the old part of the city, this small traditional riad houses contemporary Arab art gallery XVA and a small cafe. Suspended linen panels overhead shaded me from the hot sun, potted citrus trees and thick grasses fed my eyes, and the old thick walls held me tight, away from the clamor of people racing for money and large spaces. 

Linen panels from above

Update: Town & Country Travel and the Guardian UK picked up on XVA a couple years after I left 

(Photo: Guardian UK) 

(Photo: Guardian UK) 

[notes from camp on little bear creek]

Last summer I lived under a cottonwood grove in a 10'x18' canvas wall tent with my boyfriend, a few mice, some bugs, and occasional guests. Yes, we had a real bed with nice linen, and I promise I've never slept better in my entire life. Sounds of the creek out the tent flaps and cottonwood leaves clattering on windy evenings after candle-lit dinners and a couple beers-in-cans or glasses of white wine coaxed us to sleep under a heavy duvet. My grandmother's zebra skin covered the canvas floor in the kitchen space. My favorite folding table and bench from India hosted many brainstorm sessions and meals with friends. My only regret: bringing electricity in to power our computers halfway through July. 

further reading]


Peter Beard's The Adventures and Misadventures of Peter Beard in Africa or any of his other books. He always kept the best camps while in Kenya. Never prissy, always functional, yet colorful enough to entertain dignitaries and convicts.


Safari Living (although this is quite a bit fancier, still fun to see for ideas)