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Ronchamp Gatehouse and Monastery

Ronchamp / France

The Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, designed by Le Corbusier, is one of the 20th century’s most significant works of architecture. For years, it has been a major destination for international cultural tourism, to the point that the site required urgent intervention to restore the spiritual and religious atmosphere originally envisioned by its architect.

As part of a broader effort to enhance the area, the Œuvre Notre Dame du Haut commissioned Renzo Piano Building Workshop to design a convent for the Poor Clare sisters and a small visitor center, the Porterie. Nestled into the hillside, the new buildings offer a sense of protection, with thoughtfully designed interiors featuring large picture windows that frame the surrounding woods and natural light.

An aerial view of a building on top of a hill surrounded by trees
© Georges Engel
 

An architecture generated by topography and silence

 
 

When Le Corbusier redesigned the small medieval Marian church at Ronchamp—a place of popular worship destroyed by bombing in 1944—he often climbed to the top of Bourlémont Hill “to gain familiarity with the ground and horizons.” The Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut (1950–1955) became one of his most profound and unconventional works, a structure deeply rooted in introspection and worship.

The chapel’s profound sense of silence, coupled with the "acoustics of the landscape," inspired the design of the new Poor Clare convent. Nestled on the hillside at the edge of a forest, the convent remains hidden from view yet maintains a close spiritual connection with the chapel. With the addition of this permanent resident community, along with enhancements to visitor facilities and the surrounding landscape, the site has been carefully restored, preserving its sacred atmosphere.

 
A white building sits on top of a hill surrounded by trees
© Iwan Baan
The sun is shining through the trees in the forest
© RPBW
A drawing of a landscape with trees and a building on top of a hill
© RPBW
Designing a convent and visitor center at the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp that preserves the spiritual atmosphere and creates harmonious, minimalist buildings that are nestled into the hillside, enhancing the site's introspective nature
A large building is sitting on top of a lush green hill surrounded by trees
© Michel Denancé

 

The convent is a small, pale cement structure that complements the red Bourlémont rock surrounding it. It consists of living units for the nuns, a common area, offices, and a linear guest quarters building of similar size. A small, separate oratory, built into a nearby hill, blends seamlessly with its environment. The building features planted flat roofs, with slender zinc window awnings visible from above.

 
A black and white drawing of a building with trees in the background
© RPBW
A walkway leading to a building with a lot of windows and trees
© Michel Denancé
A building with a lot of windows and trees in front of it
© Michel Denancé
A modern house with a lot of windows and trees in the background at night
© Michel Denancé

 

The design follows a repetitive pattern of living units (2.70 x 2.70 x 2.70m), with modularity as a rational construction principle. This minimalist approach aligns with the Poor Clares’ discreet, active community spirit. Embedded in the hillside, each unit features a small winter garden on its southwestern facade, overlooking acacia and chestnut woods. The use of pale cement as the primary material creates a cohesive visual impact, while splashes of color, wooden furniture, and glass and aluminum window frames add warmth. The space evokes peace, introspection, and is enhanced by light and silence.

 
A woman is walking through a courtyard in front of a large window
© Michel Denancé
A church with wooden chairs and a cross on the altar
© Michel Denancé
A monk is sitting at a table in a library reading a book
© Michel Denancé
A woman is standing in a bedroom next to a desk and a bed
© Michel Denancé

Project Details

Status

2006 - 2011

Client

Association Œuvre Notre-Dame du Haut, Association des amis de Sainte Colette

Design

Renzo Piano Building Workshop, architects in collaboration with Atelier Corajoud, landscape architects (Paris)

Design Team

P.Vincent (partner in charge), F.Bolle with N.Boutet, C.Eliard, C.Klipfel, L.Lemoine, N.Meyer, J.Moolhuijzen (partner), J.Pattinson, D.Phillips, M.Prini, D.Rat, M.Rossato Piano, V.Serafini, and A.Olivier, M.Milanese, L.Leroy; O.Aubert, C.Colson, Y.Kyrkos (models)

Consultants

SLETEC (structure, MEP and cost control); M.Harlé (graphics and signage); C. Guinaudeau (planting); Nunc / L.Piccon (project co-ordination); P.Gillmann (construction management)

Awards

Special Mention from the Jury “Le Moniteur”, Paris, France (2013)