French studio Caprini & Pellerin Architectes was formed 10 years ago out of a longstanding friendship between architects Kevin Caprini and Jerry Pellerin. Fittingly, this theme of friendship filters through their latest project Villa Pistache, designed for Jerry’s close friends and their three children.
The Provençal villa is located on the heights of Villeneuve Loubet overlooking the bay of Cagnes-sur-Mer, creating a genuine Mediterranean atmosphere. Villa Pistache has been closely conceptualised with the clients in order to give the home a ‘specific soul’. “The clients are friends of mine, it was a real participatory project between the client and us,” Jerry said. The key focus of the renovation was to create “a family cocoon reflecting the clients’ values and mindset”.
Caprini & Pellerin Architectes opted for a design that respected the Provence architectural codes and believed it was essential to reinstate this within the home. “We renovated the existing neo-provençal country villa which had basic and charmless finishes that dated back to the 70s,” Jerry said. They began this mission by inserting a number of steel frame openings to optimise for natural light and ventilation.
To create an authentic interior, Caprini & Pellerin Architectes installed materials such as ceiling wood beams, bleached and brushed oak flooring and old reclaimed stone flooring and wall detail. The studio also chose waxed concrete for the bathrooms to ensure the Mediterranean character shone through, as it does in the sculptural staircase. These materials have been used to create custom features within the home, including timber joinery, furniture and the fireplace in the living space.
Upon reflection, Jerry said the close collaboration between friends has “resulted in a villa that perfectly meets their philosophy of life”, packed full of Mediterranean soul.
