Couvent des dominicaines des Tourelles

English translation

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History

The Dominican Sisters established themselves in Hérault in 1896 at Pignan, then at Montpellier in 1916, in the property of the Tourelles, in the Boutonnet district. From 1968 onwards, the community decided to split in two and to build a new convent at Tréviers, for which they called upon the artist Thomas Gleb (1912-1991). He entrusted Geneviève Colboc-Lions (1917-2009) with drawing up the plans, with Gil Thellier architect at Montpellier being responsible for overseeing the construction work. Earthmoving works began as early as July 1971, with the final moving-in taking place in December 1972. Thomas Gleb, known for his large tapestry decorations, carried out in 1979 the refurbishment of the chapel of the Carmel of Niort and the oratory of the Dominicans at the Sainte-Baume. He obtained the National Grand Prize for tapestry in 1980. The convent comprises four buildings. In the centre, a square building for reception, common rooms, dining, the chapel and the cloister. To the south, about twenty cells are arranged along a sinuous axis from the corner of the cloister. On the other side, two small buildings accommodate other cells. At the entrance to the site, a hostel is built independently. Thomas Gleb designed this architecture as a sculptor, by arrangement in space of large geometric volumes, an architecture-sculpture that fits into the landscape. He uses the curve and the oblique, in the image of the silhouette of the neighbouring Pic Saint-Loup. On a square base, he draws for example the element in superstructure which faithfully reproduces the triangle that is at once oblique and curved of the Pic Saint-Loup. The volume of the chapel is a tall cylinder made of three sections offset in plan and in height, which create three long and narrow openings providing indirect light. The altar, planned by Gleb in plexiglas but rejected by the sisters, is a large carved stone, installed in the centre of the chapel. At the rear, the cloister is enclosed by a partial roof of ovoid form. Around it, in traditional fashion, are arranged the refectory, the library and the chapel. At the far end, a wide opening opens directly onto nature. The cells are arranged along a corridor drawing three curves and counter-curves, surmounted by a section of curved roof providing openings that give indirect light. The cells of the sisters benefit in addition from a loggia opening onto the valley. Each room, those of the sisters as those of the hostel, has a view of nature and no overlooking, for privacy and isolation. The hostel building is formed of two half-spheres offset in plan and with inverted roof pitch, creating between them an open space, like a fissure. In the principle of the architecture-sculpture intended by Gleb, the curved exterior forms of the walls and ceilings are visible on the interior, the openings of varied forms, often arranged in length are softened by ovals. The treatment of the interior walls, painted in white, is very simple. In the entrance of the chapel, is displayed a tapestry by Gleb, woven in tones of white. The cantilevers forming beaks on the hostel, the use of curves, the play of small openings in the wall above the entrance awning are all references to the chapel of Ronchamp by Le Corbusier.