Maison Marcelle

Maison Marcelle is intended as a refuge for four different kinds of groups: artists, writers, social innovators and people who want to deepen their spiritual practice. The residency is open to people who are already established in their field as well as those who are at the very beginning of their careers. We value diversity and endeavour to provide a temporary home for people from all walks of life.

For activists and social innovators, Maison Marcelle is intended as a space for recovery and strategic sensing. Here, we hope those often working in an atmosphere of frantic urgency, can find the time and space for emergence.

For visual artists and writers, Maison Marcelle, is an opportunity to focus on creative work, as well as allow new ideas to incubate. They are welcome to work on concrete projects or engage in a process that does not strive for a particular outcome.

Trusting that the residents know best what they need, we place the design, rhythms, and goals entirely in their hands.

In order to create a place where people can develop without external pressure, there are a few parameters:

• Stays are generally 1 month long. A 2 months stay may also be possible.
• The stay is free of charge. Participants can, depending on ability and on a voluntary basis, contribute to the costs of maintaining Maison Marcelle. All participants are encouraged to contribute a few hours of work in the terrain, repairing dry stone walls, trimming bushes, etc. This will be discussed upon arrival and arranged based on ability.
• Residents can bring partners, friends or family members for all or part of the residency. This must be arranged beforehand.
• Individuals can apply individually, or as a group who want to work together over a longer period of time.
• The exact room allocation is agreed individually with the residents.
• The communal spaces are free of digital devices, as constant connectivity distracts from being here. To connect to the world, there is a communal house in the hamlet called the „school“. It is just opposite Maison Marcelle, and has a good internet connection. It is open to everyone.
• Maison Marcelle is looked after by an on-site resident coordinator. They are the contact person for all questions about the house, the hamlet, and the surrounding area. They may also organize meals and get-togethers for residents in consultation with the residents.
  Otherwise, all residents cater for themselves independently and will be self-organised. This includes meals and the cleaning of the house during their stay. Applicants should be aware that the residency doesn’t have a full team running it. It is intended as a place to support people in their creative work. Thus, the freedom of the space comes with a responsibility to be independent and respectful.
• Transport to the hamlet will be arranged individually. More info about transport will be given upon acceptance.

• Maison Marcelle can accommodate between 5 and 10 people in total. We are not aiming for full occupancy, but would like to make it possible for residents to accommodate friends and family members at least temporarily if they are interested. Besides the residents, other people, such as the owner’s family or their friends, will also be in La Haute Carpenée.
• There are 5 rooms in the residency.
  • Four bedrooms, and one separated flat.
  • Two of the bedrooms have their own bathrooms, and two share a bathroom.
  • The rooms with the shared bathroom are only suitable for a family, friends or a group of collaborators.
  • The residents share a kitchen, a lounge with a fireplace, and a dining room. The small separated flat consists of a kitchen/living room, bedroom and bathroom (limited wheelchair access). The hamlet is very rural and more suitable for people with limited mobility rather than 100% wheelchair use.
• All rooms are equipped with a desk/reading corner. When putting together the residents, we make sure that everyone has a suitable place to work.
• There is also a large artist’s studio in the hamlet, which is suitable for large-scale works. This is in a separate house and is prioritised for visual artists.
• La Haute Carpenée has 11 hectares of grounds, including a pool and tree house. The use of the meditation yurt and sauna are possible by prior arrangement. Down the hill, about a 20 minute walk, you will reach Lac de St. Cassien which is beautiful for swimming in the summer.
• In the third main house of the hamlet live Sascha and Valerie who care for the property and live there full time. It is not their job to manage the residency, but they are available for urgent questions. This depends on who else is in La Haute Carpenée. Generally, there will always be a , however this person will change from time to time.