renovated fondation CAB in france hosts sophisticated vintage pieces and artworks

Charles Zana breathes new life into La Fondation CAB

Designer Charles Zana renovates La Fondation CAB in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France, housing multiple exhibition spaces, a bookstore boutique, guest rooms, and a restaurant. Initially founded in 2012 by Belgian collector Hubert Bonnet in Brussels, the establishment is dedicated to showcasing international minimalist and conceptual art and aims to become a major competitor in the contemporary art scene of the region, known for its rich artistic heritage. The foundation is located in a magnificent 1950s edifice that has been brought up to date. Surrounded by a lush garden with a view of Cap d’Antibes, the building offers four unique guest rooms, a demountable house by Jean Prouvé, and an in-situ artwork by Felice Varini, adding to the overall experience for visitors.

all images by © Antoine Lippens

vintage furniture pieces stand ALONGSIDE famous artworks

Belgian businessman and collector Hubert Bonnet’s French branch is built nine years after the creation of the CAB Brussels Foundation. Just 500 meters from the Maeght Foundation, the 1950s building surrounded by a garden dotted with sculptures enjoys a privileged location directly at the heart of the contemporary art circuit of the southern region, including the Château La Coste, the Commanderie de Peyrassol, the Domaine du Muy, the Bernar Venet Foundation, the Villa Noaille, and the Carmignac Foundation.

Aiming for a renovation that respects and draws from art and design, Charles Zana reimagines the exhibition spaces, the bookshop-boutique, and the SOL café-restaurant. In the dining spaces, vintage tables by Charlotte Perriand rub shoulders with a wall sculpture by Sol LeWitt, while four guest rooms are also furnished with vintage furniture by Jean Prouvé, Fritz Hansen, Alvar Aalto, Pierre Jeanneret, Gino Sarfatti, Max Ingrand, Hans J. Wegner. In the gardens, the demountable house by Jean Prouvé is adapted into a bedroom with its furniture signed Prouvé, while honoring the original structure. Adjoining the house, a bathroom in the spirit of the original design is formed to complete the experience.

the foundation houses multiple exhibition spaces, a bookstore boutique, guest rooms, and a restaurant

the 1950s building is surrounded by a garden dotted with sculptures

in the SOL café-restaurant, vintage tables by Charlotte Perriand rub shoulders with a wall sculpture by Sol LeWitt

vintage furniture adorns the space respecting the original structure

a mix of contemporary features and original design decorates the interior

project info:

name: La Fondation CAB à Saint-Paul-de-Vence

designer: Charles Zana | @charles_zana

location: Saint-Paul-de-Vence

photography: Antoine Lippens | @antoine_lippens

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom