Sainte Marie de La Tourette, Modern monastery in Éveux, France
Sainte Marie de La Tourette is a modern monastery built from concrete with four wings arranged around a central courtyard. The structure contains about a hundred individual cells with balconies overlooking the landscape near Lyon.
Architect Le Corbusier designed this Dominican priory in 1953, with construction completed between 1956 and 1960. The project marked his final major architectural work in Europe.
The monastery functions as a place for study and reflection where visitors and students gather to contemplate architecture and human existence. The spaces encourage this engagement through their thoughtful design and secluded setting.
The building sits near Lyon and is reachable by train from the city. Visitors can stay overnight in the original monk cells to experience the daily rhythm of the place.
The building features mathematically arranged windows designed by composer Iannis Xenakis to control natural light through precise concrete openings. This collaboration merges music and architecture in an unexpected way.
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