MVRDV unveils plans for plum village buddhist monastery in france

A new vision for Plum Village buddhist monastery in france

MVRDV advances a series of projects for the Plum Village Buddhist Monastery in southern Dordogne, France, where construction approval has now been granted for the first components of a long-term collaboration. The work spans two masterplans for the Upper and Lower Hamlets, along with a new nunnery, four guest houses, and a renovated book shop.

Developed with Bordeaux-based co-architect MoonWalkLocal, the proposals reflect the monastery’s emphasis on circular materials and sensitive intervention in a rural landscape.

The collaboration emerged from extended stays by the design team, who joined daily routines in both hamlets to understand how visitors and monastics experience the site. This immersion shaped an architectural direction grounded in serene spatial organization, timber construction, and attention to seasonal rhythms.

Nunnery | image © MVRDV

mindful architecture that benefits nature by mvrdv

MVRDV‘s masterplans for the Upper and Lower Hamlets of the Plum Village study atmosphere, and ecological conditions at close range. Paths are reconfigured to ease arrival, with vehicle routes shifted away from communal areas to foster uninterrupted circulation on foot.

Areas with distinct characters are outlined with care, ranging from contemplative gardens to working zones that accommodate deliveries with reduced intrusion. Strategies for climate resilience are integrated through landscape measures such as bird habitats that limit mosquito populations, along with planned placements for solar panels.

In each hamlet, the new arrangements respond to pressures created by annual retreats, which can draw up to 800 participants. The current strain on sleeping quarters and shared spaces is addressed through expanded accommodation and a clearer spatial hierarchy that supports everyday monastery rhythms.

Nunnery | image © REDVERTEX

the new nunnery

At Loubès-Bernac, MVRDV and Plum Village are preparing a new nunnery organized around a central courtyard on a sloping site. The building will house 76 monastics and aspirants, offering dormitories, a zendo, a library, and classrooms. A continuous veranda encircles the courtyard to connect living areas and frame views toward the wider landscape.

The structure adopts a prefabricated timber system with straw insulation, reducing transport and material impacts while allowing steady construction progress. The courtyard typology supports collective life, giving the residents a sheltered outdoor room that mediates between interior and terrain.

Nunnery | image © REDVERTEX

the guest houses

Four guest houses for the Upper Hamlet will be more design-minded, and will each have a distinct relationship to its immediate context. All are built in wood, arranged across two stories with rooms set around shared living areas sized for Dharma circles. Circulation occurs through exterior staircases, balconies, and shaded verandas.

The Gate House, positioned at the entrance square, includes reception spaces and work areas on the ground level with sleeping quarters above. Two Garden Houses flank the vegetable garden, each accommodating 31 guests. A third building, the Veranda House, sits deeper in the Son Ha area and extends outward with an expansive veranda that engages the surrounding landscape. Material finishes vary from one structure to the next, allowing the architecture to settle into its specific setting.

Book Shop | image © MVRDV

the book shop

In the Upper Hamlet, the existing book shop will be expanded from its current stone enclosure into a more open and welcoming sequence. A covered terrace introduces an informal gathering space for reading and conversation. Widened openings draw visitors inside, where modular wooden shelving arranges books, calligraphy, and monastery items with greater legibility.

The renovation maintains the barn’s character while adjusting its interior for circulation and display. The result strengthens the building’s role as a social meeting point for monastics and visitors.

Book Shop | image © MVRDV