2008-2011

The Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, designed by Le Corbusier, is a significant 20th-century architectural work. Due to its cultural importance and heavy tourism, the site needed restoration to maintain its spiritual and religious essence. The Œuvre Notre Dame du Haut commissioned RPBW to design a convent for the Poor Clare sisters and a visitor center, the Porterie. 

The new buildings, nestled into the hill's slope, feature large glazed facades framing the woods and light. Le Corbusier's original chapel, built on the Bourlémont hill, emphasized introspection and worship. The new convent, made of light concrete, complements the red Bourlémont rock and houses living units for nuns and guest quarters. The design uses a repetitive modular pattern, fitting the minimalist and communal spirit of the Poor Clares. The buildings, embedded in the hillside, feature winter gardens with colorful interiors and wooden furniture. The project enhances the site's introspection and peace through silence and light.

Photo credits: RPBW, Michel Denancé, Florian Bolle