Festival des Cabanes of Villa Medici

From May 20 to September 28, 2026, the Festival des Cabanes of Villa Medici returns for its fifth edition, bringing together new creations - six visitable cabins in the gardens - designed by international teams of architects and architecture students, along with an ephemeral bookshop and a multidisciplinary artistic program, at the intersection of architecture and landscape.

Since its inception in 2022, the festival has transformed the historic gardens of the French Academy in Rome into a laboratory for architectural experimentation and practice every summer: the six cabanes are original architectural creations designed by six groups with different practices and horizons: Bento Architecture, ECAL/Ecole cantonale d’art de Lausanne with Mutina, the Huttopia Foundation, NABA/Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, PRÌA and VELIA, and salazarsequeromedina.

The idea of ​​the cabane, or hut, which gives the Festival its name, is the starting point for a dialogue between architects, artists, designers, and landscape architects on various topics, such as how to propose non-invasive architectural forms, or which housing solutions are most sustainable for the future. Made of wood, steel, brick, or recycled materials, the cabanes are set in the squares of the historic garden, rectangles of lawn planted with pine trees, some of which are nearly 200 years old, and bordered by hedges of laurel, boxwood, green oak, and myrtle.

The Festival thus intertwines architectural innovation, contemporary creation, and landscape enhancement within a historical and artistic context. Visitors can stroll from cabin to cabin, linger in the gardens, discover the ephemeral bookshop designed in collaboration with Librairie 7L, and participate in the rich calendar of events accompanying the festival. The highlight of the program is June 25th with the Nuit des Cabanes – Habiter Demain, a large early summer celebration that enlivens the gardens with screenings, performances, workshops, meetings, and concerts, and features the participation of numerous invited artists, architects, and scientists. The section dedicated to Habiter Demain is organized in collaboration with BNP Paribas.

For information and program, visit the official page: villamedici.it/programme/festival-des-cabanes/

Photo: official poster of the event