More modern religious building

For atheists, we sure spend a lot of time in churches, this one is a bit special though.

This one seems to have slipped through the net, and is from our last few days in central France, just before we entered Germany. Sorry about that.

This was another building that I visited back when I was still a young under-graduate architect, back in 1990, twenty five years ago.

This is another building designed by Le Corbusier back in the 1950’s.

Since I last visited the complex has been expanded with a monastery and visitors centre. This is by the Italian architect, Renzo Piano, who designed the Centre Pompidou with Richard Rodgers back in the 1980’s. I quite like his work, so am quite excited to see it. However, I am quite surprised to see the condition of Ronchamp, the heavy cracking down the prow, maybe it could do with a little money spent on it, a little restoration.

First stop, on the way up to the church is this lovely simple little building, originally built for the construction workers it was designed for visitors. Grass roof, simple concrete shell, simple lines, simple form, what more could you want.

The main building I will write very little about, and will leave it to you, the reader to see whether you like it or not.

Is it a ‘marmite’ building? ‘Sobrasada’ in Spain, you either love it or loath it.

(Well, I may not be able to resist the odd comment).

A brass handle on the main door.

From the outside, these small openings make little sense, but just wait until you get inside.

See what I mean, again the quality of light, quite beautiful.

Notice the narrow horizontal strip of light around the ceiling line. The heavy and solid roof literally floats on a cushion of light.

Abstract stained glass windows.

We are lucky, it is towards the end of the day, and there are very few people around, we nearly have the building to ourselves. It is far more tranquil than my visit 25 years ago.

We wander back outside.

As we leave the main building we pass the residence of the priest.

And we then find the new addition designed by Renzo Piano, the monastery.

This building cascades down the hillside, and is embedded within it, the grass roofs essentially disguising the building, reducing its impact on the church above.

But, it has the quality of a care home for the elderly. Although the winter garden on the front gives the building plenty of light it has the quality of a British conservatory. I am sure it is not, but it looks like PVC windows, not elegant at all.

And the car park in front, and the road, really disappointing.