Engel & Völkers announces that it has finalized the sale of the Villa Tempe in Pailla, a modernist property located in Menton, in the immediate vicinity of the Italian border, at the end of 2025 for an estimated amount of 3.5 million euros. Designed in 1934 by Eileen Gray, a major figure in modern architecture, the villa is listed as a Historic Monument, underlining its heritage and architectural value.
Located on a plot of 3.6 hectares, about 4 kilometres from the centre of Menton, the property offers an unobstructed view of the Mediterranean and the Alpine reliefs.
It consists of two buildings: the historic villa of Eileen Gray and the "White Villa" built in 1970, designed by the architect Tom Wilson on the initiative of the British painter Graham Sutherland.
Designed as a holiday and work home, the 400 m2 property brings together reception volumes, several terraces and living spaces facing the outside. It now has eight bedrooms, five bathrooms, as well as reception rooms that allow the modernity of the architectural gesture to be read in the organization of the circulations and openings.
"Tempe a Pailla is not just a villa, it is a major milestone in the history of modern architecture, whose strength of presence and level of conservation make the sale unique," says Karine Perroux, Real Estate Advisor at the Engel & Völkers Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat agency, which carried out this sale. "Supporting this transaction is above all about allowing the transmission of a major architectural work in history - but also linked to the English artistic avant-garde - by reconciling heritage requirements, confidentiality and precision."
Marketed exclusively by Engel & Völkers, the property was acquired by the Austrian architect Maximilian Eisenköck, with the intention of developing a museum project there. This transaction illustrates the international dynamics of the Côte d'Azur market in the prestige segment, driven by a foreign clientele with a strong presence in the acquisition of exceptional properties.
"Our role is to connect unique properties to buyers who are able to understand their uniqueness and carry out the project over the long term. This sale is a perfect example of what Engel & Völkers' international presence and our local roots make possible," concludes Marie-Claire Sangouard, Managing Director of Engel & Völkers Côte d'Azur.
