Amassa Retreat

Bindloss Dawes has restored a rural hamlet in south-west France – and remodelled a 300-year-old barn – to create a tranquil wellness destination.

Photos
Ellen Christine Hancock

Bindloss Dawes has completed the transformation of a remote cluster of agricultural buildings into Amassa – a yoga and wellness retreat set in the rolling hills of south-west France. Surrounded by meadows, and with views towards the Pyrenees, the project reimagines a former hamlet as a serene destination rooted in slowness, nature and renewal.

The clients, Tania and Ben – founders of a yoga studio in south-east London – approached Bindloss Dawes with a vision for a place that could foster connection, creativity and calm. The practice responded with a series of light-touch restorations that gently rework the existing structures into a series of communal and private spaces for rest, movement, and reflection. Together, the various elements – from pools and treatment rooms to dining areas and shaded courtyards – combine to form a retreat that feels both grounded and expansive.

At the centre of the project is the dramatic reinvention of a 300-year-old barn. The architects preserved the original stone walls and timber frame while introducing a set of robust in-situ concrete elements that stabilise and support the structure. A four-metre-high west-facing opening, framed in concrete, draws in the setting sun and frames long views across the countryside. The move is both pragmatic and poetic – improving the building’s performance while intensifying its relationship with the landscape.

Throughout, the approach is one of restraint. Rather than erase the past, Bindloss Dawes chose to reveal and repair it. External walls were rebuilt using traditional techniques by a local stonemason, with minimal alteration to their form. Internally, the new poured-concrete floor and mezzanine – which appears to float within the vaulted volume – provide a tonal and textural contrast to the rugged walls. The concrete introduces thermal mass, moderating internal temperatures and contributing to the building’s calm acoustic.

Despite the scale of the barn – with seven-metre eaves and a ten-metre ridge – the overall impression is one of softness. Light filters gently through the space, and the lofty volume encourages a slower pace. Upstairs, the mezzanine offers a contemplative breakout space nestled within the rafters. Beneath it, the open-plan layout adapts easily for yoga classes, workshops or shared meals, with the flexibility to host larger gatherings or intimate events.

Elsewhere on the site, smaller buildings, including a bakery, piggery and tractor shed, have been subtly reworked into bedrooms, lounges and studios. Original pantile roofs have been repaired with rough-sawn timber sarking boards beneath new insulation. Where necessary, windows have been replaced with high-performance glazing to improve comfort without compromising character.

Together, these elements create an ensemble that feels timeless yet quietly contemporary – a place that encourages visitors to pause, reconnect, and immerse themselves in the rhythms of nature.

“We approached the project with a desire to preserve and retain the beautiful character of the original hamlet,” said Oliver Bindloss, director of Bindloss Dawes. “But when it came to the barn – which was dark and enclosed – a bolder approach was needed to reinvigorate the space and open it to sunlight and views.”

Clients Tania and Ben added: “Amassa, in the ancient Occitan language, means ‘to gather’. This is at the heart of what we wanted – a space where people can slow down and share moments. Bindloss Dawes understood that deeply. The result is a retreat that feels private and peaceful, yet alive with possibility.”