{"id":1188,"date":"2025-07-27T10:00:05","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T10:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.angesfinanciers.org\/?p=1188"},"modified":"2025-08-01T15:10:01","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T15:10:01","slug":"bindloss-dawes-transforms-centuries-old-french-hamlet-into-yoga-retreat-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.angesfinanciers.org\/index.php\/2025\/07\/27\/bindloss-dawes-transforms-centuries-old-french-hamlet-into-yoga-retreat-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Bindloss Dawes transforms centuries-old French hamlet into yoga retreat"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Yoga<\/div>\n

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

Named after a word that means ‘to gather’ in the region’s historic language of Occitan<\/a>, the Amassa retreat occupies what was once an agricultural hamlet near Toulouse, comprised of five stone and timber buildings.<\/p>\n

\"Stone
An old French hamlet was transformed into the Amassa yoga retreat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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<\/a> to become the retreat’s main studio.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

\"People
The main barn was opened up to be used as a yoga studio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Mezzanine
The mezzanine level functions as a second studio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n