The entirely new Cistercian Abbey of Saint-Jean-de-Matha was made to express the harmony and simplicity governing the daily lives of the Cistercian monks. The seven daily masses pace their lives. In accordance to their way of life, the abbey?s different spaces seem progressively circling around the cloister and culminate towards the church, the project?s focal point. At the very heart of the building, the cloister preserves a part of the forest and allows the abbey to have a sample of the passing seasons. The complex?s half-open disposition suggests the most natural entrance to the building located on the northern side and accessed by a walkway. The prolonging of the roof covers and signals the main entrance. Under the cover, a mineral garden serves as the church and the housings? parvis.
© Alain Laforest

Architects: Atelier Pierre Thibault

Location: Saint-Jean-de-Matha, QC J0K, Canada

Architect In Charge: Pierre Thibault

Project Year: 2005

Photographs: Alain Laforest , Pierre Lahoud, Philippe Saharoff, Jacques Nadeau

© Alain Laforest

From the architect. The entirely new Cistercian Abbey of Saint-Jean-de-Matha was made to express the harmony and simplicity governing the daily lives of the Cistercian monks. The seven daily masses pace their lives. In accordance to their way of life, the abbey?s different spaces seem progressively circling around the cloister and culminate towards the church, t...