Ronchamp Gatehouse and Monastery
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 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.
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.
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.
Details on Foundation website
Project Details
Status
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)
