gabion walls frame tephra's stone shelter along dry riverbed in french mineral landscape

tephra’s refuge of stones evokes the memory of water in france

Architectural studio TEPHRA unveils Refuge of Stones, a shelter embedded along the Eau Morte riverbed in Faverges, France. Designed for the 2024 Festival of Cabins, the structure emerges from a reading of the site, where stones naturally tumble down from the surrounding mountains, forming an ever-evolving mineral landscape. The shelter acts as a threshold between the path and the river, inviting visitors to pause and reflect on the geological cycles shaping the terrain.

At the heart of the installation are gabion walls constructed from seven tons of stones, harvested directly from the dry riverbed. These stones, usually hidden beneath flowing water, are revealed and placed in their new architectural context. Wood and steel elements complement the gabions, while their porous texture filters light and shadows, creating dynamic visual patterns that shift throughout the day.

images courtesy of TEPHRA

the installation introduces visitors to the natural processes

Inside the shelter, the French team of TEPHRA includes a long wooden bench that offers a place to sit and observe. A three-meter ribbon window, positioned at eye level when seated, frames the meandering dry riverbed, drawing attention to the quiet yet powerful natural transformations of the landscape. The interplay of filtered light through the gabion walls and the movement of foliage above evokes the memory of water, recalling its past presence and hinting at its potential return.

Designed as an observation point, Refuge of Stones transforms the mosaic of the site into an architectural narrative.

The installation connects architecture with nature and introduces visitors to the cyclical processes of erosion and renewal, offering a meditative retreat within the ever-changing environment of the Eau Morte riverbed.

TEPHRA unveils a shelter embedded along the Eau Morte riverbed

seven tons of stones were used for the gabion walls

the stones are harvested directly from the dry riverbed

the porous texture of the walls filters light and shadows

wood and steel elements complement the gabions

a three-meter ribbon window, positioned at eye level when seated, frames the meandering dry riverbed

these stones are usually hidden beneath flowing water

creating dynamic visual patterns

project info:

name: Refuge of stones
architect: TEPHRA | @studiotephra
location: Faverges, France

lead architects: Mathieu Nouhen & Fabrice Henry

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edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom