renzo piano: rehabilitation of the ronchamp site

‘rehabilitation of ronchamp site’ by renzo piano, ronchamp, france the nunnery image © michel denancé

italian architect renzo piano and french landscape architect michel corajoud have collaborated to complete the ‘rehabilitation of the ronchamp site’, a masterplan positioned adjacent to le corbusier’s notre dame du haut chapel in ronchamp, france. a gatehouse and convent for a small community of international poor clares are immersed into the hills surrounding the monumental landmark, initially constructed in 1955. the intervention is discretely integrated to maintain the serenity and sacredness of the grounds as it was originally conceived.

view of the sewing room image © michel denancé

cut into the sloping terrain, the gatehouse serves as a replacement structure for the reception of visitors to the site, providing facilities for a ticket office, gift shop, meeting room and administrative spaces. a continuous and exposed glass facade opens to the arrival and parking area. the convent is comprised of individual units which accommodate daily activities for each of the chapel’s dozen resident sisters. the separate concrete cubes are positioned in clusters on the west side of the complex providing outward views to the valley bellow. a personal winter garden dedicated to contemplation mediates the residential quarters and exterior environment. the monastery includes an oratory for religious pilgrims and a peaceful lodge for transient visitors to rest. a simple material palette of concrete, zinc and wood are used throughout the building’s edifice and interior.

cell, view through the winter garden image © michel denancé

the mature landscape of the encompassing bourlemont hill has been strategically treated and revived, replanting only as necessary and prudently introducing sustainable development practices to reduce energy consumption. preservation of the existing vegetation and forestation generates a sense of unity and remoteness to the design.

cell, internal view with its winter garden

image © michel denancé

parloir image © michel denancé

sewing room image © michel denancé

break room with its patio image © michel denancé

common room image © michel denancé

oratory image © michel denancé

view through the lodge’s refectory image © michel denancé

sister brigitte de singly and renzo piano visiting the site

image © michel denancé

paul vincent and the sisters visiting the site

image  © renzo piano building workshop

sketch, site plan image © renzo piano building workshop

site plan image © renzo piano building workshop oratory, plan image © renzo piano building workshop

cell, plan image © renzo piano building workshop

cell, elevation image © renzo piano building workshop

oratory, elevation

image © renzo piano building workshop

model, plan

image © renzo piano building workshop

cell, renzo piano’s sketch

image  © renzo piano building workshop

the landscape, renzo piano’s sketch

image © renzo piano building workshop

plan, renzo piano’s sketch

image © renzo piano building workshop

oratory, renzo piano’s sketch

image © renzo piano building workshop

project info:

beginning of the project: 2006 client: association œuvre notre-dame du haut + poor clares (association sainte colette) landscape: atelier corajoud consultants: sletec ingénierie, m. harlé, c.guinaudeau, p.gillmann, nunc/l.piccon monastery area: 1700 m² gatehouse area: 450 m² roofed area: 1386 m² (convent : 263 m² ; poor clares’ living area : 296 m² ; workshops : 120 m² ; oratory : 260 m² ; guest quarters: 443 m²) all these areas are fragmented into several small volumes budget: 9.000.000 € including landscaping and site rehabilitation program: design of a convent with its related functions; demolition of the existing gatehouse and construction of a new one; demolition of the existing parking lot to be replaced by a smaller, planted one; landscaping and overall rehabilitation of the site.

the convent: living spaces: 12 cells and spaces for common living (1 common room; 1 refectory with annexed kitchen; 2 cells for the disabled; 1 infirmary) guest quarter: a nondenominational space for hosting visitors made up of 8 cells + 1 cell for disabled; 1 dining room; 1 small meeting room communal areas: 2 workshops (sewing rooms), 2 offices (12 m²), 3 parlors (10 m²), oratory for 35 people

the gatehouse: areas open to public include: small meeting room, ticket office, refreshment corner, shop corner, bioclimatic winter garden, public restrooms administration: first aid room, office for researchers, archive (le corbusier’s work)

landscaping: including: demolition of the existing parking lot replaced with a smaller planted parking lot, enhancement of the ancient path leading from ronchamp up to the chapel, requalification of the entire site (clearance, planting etc)