Antoine Chauvin

Cava

Cava is a shower and relaxation room whose only exterior opening is a skylight which directs natural light onto an irremovable sculpture. Connected to the entrance via a pontoon and imagined as the masterpiece in this installation, is a solid pylon supporting a leaf which can be unfolded in order to receive a body in both a seated or languid position, its radical and monu- mental shape reigning over the rest of the space. The shower is indicated simply via a circular shower mat. In order to decorate the walls, Antoine Chauvin has chosen a painted fresco whose shapes echo that of the lightweight railing which is suspended from the ceiling; this device supports the pipework and the cables which sup- ply Cava with both water and electricity. Without hiding the technical elements, this framework indicates the function of each zone in the room.
A harmony of calm and natural colours are presented in a matte finish which are contrasted by glass vases placed on the floor, their curved shapes seeming to stretch up towards the rays of light from the skylight.
Comfort is not initially evoked, but can be experimented with in using this room; the space and simplicity of this configuration grants the user total freedom. There is nothing here to hin- der their movements, beyond their own actions, whilst none of the materials elicit that caution might be necessary.

Antoine Chauvin won last year’s Grand Prix Design Parade Toulon Van Cleef & Arpels (tied in first place with the duo of Haddou – Dufourcq). He studied at ECAL in Switzerland, and splits his time between Marseilles and Paris, as well as between private commissions and his own research. Of particular note is his creation of the scenography for the architecture exhibitions at the villa Noailles in February, 2019.