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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The former Carmel of Ascq, located at 99 rue Masséna in Villeneuve-d-Ascq (North), is a convent built between 1971 and 1973 on land offered by the Count of Montalembert. Designed by architect Philippe Lepère, it initially hosts 22 Carmelites attached to the Lisieux Federation. Its inauguration took place on November 30, 1974, marking the culmination of a project combining spirituality and architectural modernity.

The building, representative of the brutalist style, consists of white painted concrete modules, raised by 80 cm to adapt to the marshy terrain. The chapel, located in the centre, is surrounded by terraced living spaces. A landscaped park, including a rose garden and aisles, completes the whole, symbolizing both the isolation of the nuns and their integration into the new city.

Carmelites left the site permanently in 1996. In 2001, facades and roofs (excluding later additions) were listed as historical monuments by order of 21 November. The architecture, inspired by Le Corbusier, and the dialogue between concrete and nature make this place a unique witness to the religious and modern heritage of the Hauts-de-France.

The project also responded to a desire for proximity with the students of the Villeneuve-d-Ascq campus, reflecting the opening of the convent to contemporary society. Today, the site retains a strong heritage value, combining spiritual heritage and architectural audacity.

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