Bindloss Dawes transforms centuries-old French hamlet into yoga retreat

London practice Bindloss Dawes has transformed a centuries-old hamlet in southwest France into the Amassa yoga retreat, using a series of monolithic poured concrete forms to adapt an existing stone barn.

Named after a word that means 'to gather' in the region's historic language of Occitan, the Amassa retreat occupies what was once an agricultural hamlet near Toulouse, comprised of five stone and timber buildings.

While the site's smaller buildings were used to house accommodation and communal areas, a large, 300-year-old stone barn at the centre of the site underwent more extensive alterations by Bindloss Dawes to become the retreat's main studio.

"We approached the project with a desire to preserve and retain the beautiful character of the original hamlet of buildings," the studio's co-founder Oliver Bindloss told Dezeen.

"However, when it came to the barn, which was dark and with only two existing openings, a bolder approach was needed to reinvigorate and open up the space to sunlight and views," he added.

Using in-situ poured concrete, Bindloss Dawes added a new mezzanine level to this barn, as well as a four-metre-high opening with a full-height sliding glass door overlooking the landscape to the west.

These additions served the dual purpose of stabilising the existing stone structure and improving the function of the space, with the mezzanine housing a secondary studio area for workshops and events.

"We utilised the structural requirement of the inserted concrete mezzanine and turned this into an upper studio, which appears to be suspended between the outer walls," Bindloss said.

"To form the four-metre-high opening, we poured a concrete structure on both the inside and outside of the wall and, once this was formed, knocked the stone wall out from within," he added.

"As the stone walls are a beautifully rough texture, the liquid quality of concrete allows for concrete to be poured up against the stone walls and to fluidly flow around the rough texture."

Across the rest of Amassa's site, the existing buildings were subject to "considered repairs" using local materials, with simple interiors that emphasise their original stone walls and timber rafters.

Between each of the hamlet's buildings, the studio also introduced a swimming pool, outdoor eating spaces and hammocks, helping to further open up and connect different areas of the site.

Based in Somerset, UK, Bindloss founded Bindloss Dawes alongside George Dawes in 2018.

Previous projects by the studio include an exposed concrete and brick extension to a home in London and the transformation of an old schoolhouse in Somerset.

The post Bindloss Dawes transforms centuries-old French hamlet into yoga retreat appeared first on Dezeen.