When Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret designed REFUGE TONNEAU in 1938, they dramed up a mobile barrel shelter that would house up to eight people for short periods of time in a comfortable yet reduced environment. The entire structure was thought to be made from prefabricated components in aluminium and wood and could be easily transported high into the mountains over the shoulders and mounted within four days. Although never realised at the time, ideas of this project influenced later works of its creators and many others.

82 years later a group of twelve students of the department of Interior Architecture at HEAD – Genève designed new interior variations of the REFUGE TONNEAU. The projects varied from a spaceship cabin to a family shelter, from a meditation camp to a chamber orchestra, and from a place for a couples‘ therapy to a cheese factory. The designs represented their creator‘s personality and experiences while putting an emphasis on contemporary living and aesthetics. Mobility, considered use of materials, and functionality were paired with emotions, playfulness and the pure joy of being placed in a remote location in nature.

In continuation of theses ideas the REFUGE TONNEAU 21 was developed further as a pavilion that would serve as a place to meet and in an urban environment. Central stairs are placed inside a colourful interior with a playful pattern of circular windows. Solar panels on the roof run a ceiling light installation displaying the names Charlotte and Pierre. The installation is realised for the OPEN HOUSE exhibition in Genthod/ Geneva in 2021.

Pierre Jeanneret is an alumnus from the Geneva School of Fine Arts, where he was trained from 1913 to 1915 and from 1918 to 1921. This institution merged into HEAD – Genève in 2006.

Students: Annika Resin, Aurélie Chêne, Camille Némethy, Caroline Savary, Élise Chauvigné, Gaïane Legendre, Julie Reeb, Juliette Colomb, Karen Vidal, Krenare Krasniqi, Maria Clara Castioni, Melissa Ferrara.