Villa Medici's Festival des Cabanes Returns with Ephemeral Micro-Architectures

The fifth edition of the Festival des Cabanes transforms the gardens of Villa Medici in Rome into a haven of temporary micro-architectures, exploring reuse and the relationship with nature. Director Sam Stourdzé describes the cabane as a child's dream. The festival aligns with Villa Medici's three historic missions: being an artist residency, a contemporary creation center, and a custodian of botanical and monumental heritage. Over 42,000 visitors can access the gardens for half the year. Architect Alia Bengana, the sole resident architect, critiques modern construction waste, advocating for local, repairable architecture inspired by ancient Roman circular economy. The Belgian collective Bento presents 'Duomo Invertito,' an inverted dome made from broom handles and 2,100 living mycelium tiles, tied with over 4,000 hand-made knots. The structure references the Pantheon's oculus and will become a pirate radio station on June 25, 2026, during the Nuit des Cabanes-Habiter Demain. Other projects include 'Aquifère' by Prìa e Velia, a 15-ton travertine and clay installation that cools the air by two degrees; 'Creetopia' by Fondation Huttopia, a tent inspired by Canadian indigenous peoples; 'Cabane 7L' by Salazarsequeromedina, a reading space; and 'Façade,' a collaboration between ECAL students and Mutina ceramics. NABA's 'Reassembled Views' upcycles materials from previous editions. The festival runs until September 28, 2026.