In this Archello series, we look at each of the seven nominated projects (five architecture finalists and two emerging finalists) in the Mies van der Rohe Awards 2024.
Rebirth of the Convent Saint-François
Amelia Tavella Architectes has completed the rehabilitation and extension of the 15th century Convent Saint-François in the village of Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano on the island of Corsica. Built in 1480, the abandoned convent, set in the wild Corsican landscape in the southern part of the mountainous island, had fallen into partial ruin. Amelia Tavella sought to restore the historical monument in a way that honors the remnants of its past. Converting the building into a Maison du Territoire — House of the Territory — it is now a site dedicated to culture.
Perched on a hilltop, at a height of 450 meters, the Convent Saint-François watches over the small village of Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano. Surrounded by an olive grove, the natural backdrop frames the newly restored monument. Nature has also partly overtaken the building, growing inside and between the stones, like a “vegetal armor protecting it from collapse,” says Amelia Tavella.
The convent now exists in two interconnected parts: firstly, the ruins of the building have been rehabilitated and returned to their original form; secondly, a missing section of the building has been replaced with a perforated copper volume — a noble material, it will acquire a warm patina with age. Amelia Tavella has carefully amalgamated the copper and stone, where one becomes an extension of the other. “I do not remove [but instead] I attach, tie, and affix, relying on the original work — copper reveals the stone and sanctifies the ruinous state,” says the architect. The contemporary copper framework augments the old convent and reproduces a silhouette of the previous structure.
The perforated copper captures and reflects light — like a mashrabiya (a traditional Islamic architectural element that circulates air and controls light), it allows light and air to flow into the building. On the inside, the complex houses a media library and space for cultural gatherings.
A native of Corsica, Amelia Tavella has followed her intuition, acting as both architect and archaeologist. Searching for traces of the past — for imprints — she has reimagined these in a contemporary manner. In the rehabilitation of Convent Saint-François, the architect has presented a vision of the past and present, crafting a building that celebrates its heritage and looks to the future.
EUmies Awards
The Convent Saint-François is a finalist in the 2024 edition of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture — Mies van der Rohe Awards (EUmies Awards). There are seven nominated projects in total: five architecture finalists and two emerging finalists.
The EUmies Awards program was founded in 1988 by Fundació Mies van der Rohe and the European Union. Winners will be announced on 25 April 2024.
