Ephemeral structures provoke a profound reflection on their intangible essence: what does "ephemeral" truly mean? It evokes a fleeting interval, a transient breath within the flow of time. How, then, can we conceive of an ephemeral construction and anchor it in a specific moment? At the heart of this approach lies a contemplation of the present moment, a meditation on the surrounding landscape—its fauna, flora, climate, currents, and interactions with us humans.
The temporality of the Cabanes Festival, unfolding during the sunny months of June to September, presents a unique phenomenon to explore. The Eau Morte River, with its lack of flow, becomes a setting—a rare opportunity for our intervention. At this moment, an invitation emerges to engage with the stone, a material otherwise inaccessible during the seasons when water flows freely.
Stone, gathered from the “Eau Morte” River in Faverges, is elevated into walls with the help of a wooden framework and steel mesh. A mineral edifice rises between the trail and the river. Acting as a marker of disruption, it accompanies the calm, dry course of the river and invites a fresh perspective on this landscape. Upon passing through its doorway, a long bench encourages visitors to sit and weave a contemplative connection with the river. Inside, a three-meter-long ribbon window frames the meandering riverbed. Positioned at seating height, this opening invites each visitor to immerse themselves in the essence of the moment, face to face with this stony riverbed, dry and seemingly frozen in time.
Through this window, a visual and sensory experience unfolds in the heart of this stone cocoon. Sunbeams, filtered through the porous walls and orchestrated by the gentle dance of foliage, create luminous movements evoking the fluidity of water. This interplay of light lingers in the mind as a sensation of aquatic oscillation, like the shadow of an absence.
In harmony with its environment, this ephemeral cabin is an ode to the fleeting nature of time—a celebration of the ephemeral beauty of the present moment.
