Une Maison D'architecte Dans L'histoire Du Modernisme

LA MAISON BADOVICI GRAY, IN VÉZELAY Located in the historic heart of Vézelay, the Maison Badovici Gray is a discreet and unique address. This stone house, a true source of inspiration, was redesigned by Jean Badovici and Eileen Gray. It bears the mark of many artists, notably Le Corbusier, who worked on it in the 1930s. The entire property is arranged in an unusual way, with a direct connection to the local landscape. A UNIQUE ADDRESS IN THE HEART OF THE VILLAGE Situated in the center of Vézelay, the house is on rue de l’Argenterie, a street away from the tourist flow that runs along the main street. It is in the heart of the old village, in its densest and most intimate part. The basilica is less than a 3-minute walk away, while the main square and its restaurants are also within immediate reach. Vézelay follows the rhythm of the seasons, with a strong summer presence: a setting suitable for a second home as well as a quiet year-round residence. From the openings and terraces, the view extends far over the Vézelien vineyard, terraced gardens, and the surrounding countryside. This side preserves clear views and soft light, without excessive heat in summer due to its sheltered exposure. AN ARCHITECT’S HOUSE LINKED TO MODERNISM HISTORY In 1927, Jean Badovici bought two small adjoining houses on rue de l’Argenterie, on the village’s northern slope. He combined and transformed them with Eileen Gray’s involvement. It is here, in Vézelay, that their collaboration took shape and deepened. The reworked openings, integrated elements, and the office arranged in the attic testify to the expertise they developed together in this village. Le Corbusier, a close friend of Badovici and regular visitor to the house, wrote in La Ville Radieuse (1933): ”Everything is tiny, but everything is grand. It is a setting on a human scale.” In 1936, Fernand Léger painted a mural on the courtyard wall, now preserved at the Musée Zervos in Vézelay. Inspired by this, Le Corbusier created his very first mural painting the same year on a living room wall, traces of which remain visible. This experiment convinced him. Badovici hosted many guests. Poets, artists, and writers frequented the house. Paul Éluard, who took refuge in Vézelay during the war, left an autograph poem still visible in one of the bedrooms. A second poem by Jean Follain is also preserved in the house’s living room. A PLACE TO MAKE YOUR OWN The property consists of two houses of about 85 m² each, over two levels, connected by a sunken inner courtyard that rises from rue de l’Argenterie to the second house on rue des Écoles. Concrete, stone, and earth compose this intermediate space, both a passage and a living area, where a flower garden would naturally fit. The Badovici house has an attic of about 15 m², the architect’s former office, identifiable from the street by the raised roof and its two vertical openings, to be arranged as needed. A cellar, much older than the house itself, is ideal for wine storage. The place can be easily reclaimed without major renovations. AGENCY OPINION This house is aimed at a buyer sensitive to architecture and history. Its rarity lies in the convergence of several uncommon criteria: a central location in Vézelay, a documented and embodied history, a clear modernist identity, and real potential for enhancement. Alexis MOUCHET (EI) Commercial Agent - RSAC Number: - .
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the Géorisques website: https://www.georisques.gouv.fr/