La Tourette
Stepping Into the Unknown
Clarity often arrives in unexpected ways. As architects—and simply as people—the spaces around us, natural or built, frame how we think and feel. What seems purposeful at first glance often has more arbitrary underpinnings.
We didn’t start Mesura at some grand, mythical moment—but our time at Le Corbusier’s Sainte‑Marie de La Tourette monastery in Éveux left a deep impression. That experience sparked the decision to work together, laying the groundwork for what our studio has become.
Le Corbusier observed: “Space and light and order. Those are the things that humans need just as much as they need bread or a place to sleep.” After staying at La Tourette, his words resonated with new depth. We saw firsthand how architecture shapes mindsets, convictions, even lives. That monastery was a turning point: its light, atmosphere, and quiet rigour offered not just reflection, but confirmation that architecture is collective, not solo.
Some buildings feel alive without demanding interaction. La Tourette is different—its power isn’t passive. It requires engagement: observation, adaptation, presence. That demand is what gives it meaning in our journey.
If our surroundings define us, La Tourette was ours. Its austere, brutal clarity reminded us of our humanity—and of each other. We arrived as individuals, and departed as a team, united by shared values and conviction: that architecture only comes to life when created together. It was Mesura’s first real step into the unknown.
Photography by Jansen Aui.
