- Interior
- Architecture & development
Caprini & Pellerin renovated a ground floor apartment bathing in natural light and with stunning views over the French Riviera. The architectural challenge of this project was to find a way to reconfigure the three different apartments into one elegant space.
One of the main wishes of the owners was to let in as much natural light as possible
The architecture firm Caprini & Pellerin, based in Cannes, was founded by Kevin Caprini and Jerry Pellerin in 2008. They work on both luxury residential and commercial projects. Their latest project called Mariposa Apartment, located in their home base of Cannes, is one of them.
Mariposa is a combination of three different apartments. All three are very different concerning partition walls and different ceiling heights. Important fundamental work was carried out by the architects Caprini and Pellerin to break through the existing structures and connect the spaces. One of the owners' main wishes was to let in as much natural light as possible and to utilise the excellent sea view for the different rooms. In addition, the owners used to live in a large house and wanted to transfer all the rooms of their previous villa to this apartment, such as their wine and cigar cellar, hunting room, office, etc., as well as the space to display a large collection of art objects. 
The brutalist, modernist architecture of the building was the main source of inspiration for the architects. The oculus windows and terraces also inspired the curves of the vaulted ceilings and doors. The exterior of the Mariposa-apartment has a primitive, almost 'caveman' look. Caprini & Pellerin took this style inside, designing 'cave-like corridors'. They also reproduced the planters on the outside for the inside. The architects reinterpreted the handicraft of the Incas with the materials they chose to give the apartment more character. Unfortunately, the original materials could not be retained due to their age. Furthermore, sophisticated lighting work, such as home automation, was used in Mariposa to make the mono-material spaces harmonious.
The simplicity of Mariposa Apartment transcends its interior design. A great place to live and enjoy every day. In short, an architecture in function of its inhabitants. 
Want to know more about Mariposa Apartment? Read the full article in Imagicasa Autumn 2021.
Photography by Alexis Armanet