collectif REV.L poetically frames the french countryside with 'le gardien'

realized by collectif REV.L, le gardien stands as one of the twelve constructions built for the festival des cabanes aux sources du lac d’annecy (lake annecy) in france. the event seeks to raise awareness of the visitors’ own territory by introducing a small-scale wooden structure, a reconnection with the natural context. le gardien is located in faverges-seythenex on private land where cows live for most of the year. at the edge of the forest, the wooden shelter serves as a frame of the distant mountains. it places the visitor in the active role of watching over this fragile landscape, symbolized by the swing which oscillates between the two singular atmospheres offered by the land and the forest.

the canada and france-based studio collectif REV.L designs its le gardien pavilion with great respect for its natural surroundings. the landscape of the pays de faverges is the result of a long-standing balance between a spectacular natural territory and a human culture that has adapted to the powerful character of the mountains. this balance is actively maintained by the inhabitants thanks to their constant work on the territory. the cycle is structured as a network of actors who extract, move, and transform natural resources. whether farmers or foresters, cheesemakers or builders, all contribute to its transformation and preservation.

collectif REV.L’s le gardien is the result of these processes, combining nature and local culture. the simplicity of its volume represents the simple daily work of the inhabitants. the shelter places the visitor in the active role of watching over this fragile balance, symbolized by the swing, light and central, going and coming from one atmosphere to another. indeed, the constructive system offers a contrast between two worlds — the land side which focuses on the macro-landscape through a long space framed by wooden planks, and the forest side which opens onto its surroundings and highlights nearby micro-elements including stumps, trunks, insects, leaves, and the sounds of the river.

upon arrival to le gardien, visitors follow a pathway that runs along the forest and the river. the simple massing and the vertical structure of the pavilion lends it to blend into the forest. le gardien humbly takes its place among the trees. when visitors emerge from the trees, they are faced by an entrance marked by the presence of a stump and are invited to take a seat on the swing. symbolic of the heart of le gardien, the rhythm of the swing brings it to life. it offers a simple and striking experience of two atmospheres which are the essence of the agricultural mountain landscape. the light is diffused and soft, filtered by the leaves and branches. the space is peaceful, and the sound of the river below is omnipresent and relaxing.