| Category | |
|---|---|
| Year | 2020 |
| Size | 3,900sqm |
Projects
Bonnevaux Centre for Peace
Building the centre of calm
Located in the West-Central region of France, close to Poitiers, Bonnevaux Centre for Peace will convert the site of an ancient abbey into a place of meditation and a new home for the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM). The 65ha heritage site was chosen for its serenity and seclusion, yet it remains accessible, with an international airport close by and resting one and a half hours by train from Paris.
This campus of peace and meditation will incorporate a variety of accommodation types: L’abbaye, the community home; La Grange, a conference facility; L'écurie, the main guesthouse including the site’s central reception; and Le Village Contemplatif, private cells and gardens for self-contemplation and rest.
Details
Bonnevaux Centre for Peace provides further focused opportunities for the world-community and guests to find their centre, in a place that promotes peace on many levels: from the internal and local (inner peace) to the global and geopolitical (world peace).
By embracing nature, crafting thoughtful spaces and respecting the history at Bonnevaux, we seek to create a place that forges relationships, nurtures self-awareness of self and others, and supports contemplation.
Nestled within nature, end-users will find a delightful variety of spaces - some intimate and private for self-contemplation, and others larger and public for group sharing; all engendering a sense of community.
The WCCM promotes a method that allows us to find pause in today’s hectic urban schedule, and through these pauses, we find clarity and purpose in life.
The works include the alteration of existing listed buildings and the construction of new structures designed to be sensitive to both local context and global environment. The master plan positions landscaping and these new buildings to define a variety of places, some intimate and private for self-contemplation, others larger and public for group sharing, all engendering a sense of community. The village green—the principle place—will form the heart of the community and is bounded by the key public buildings: La Grange and L'écurie. The green’s southern side will be left open, allowing in light and providing inspiring views onto a picturesque lake and surrounding landscapes. An existing chapel to the east will be preserved as the site’s spiritual focus.
A choice of accommodation will be provided to suit members’ means, such as apartments for time-share or rental, guestrooms with modest interior treatment, and chalets with private terraces, all full-board, with healthy fresh food prepared from produce grown on the grounds.