Stretching over more than seven hectares, the Gardens of the French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici, are a unique example of a Medici garden (the original design was conceived by Ferdinando de Medici around 1560) still largely retaining its 16th century appearance.

The gardens are, however, an extremely active and lived-in place: they are both a working space for the gardeners and a living space for Villa Medici's scholars and residents. They also host the Festival des Cabanes, an event that transforms the gardens into a laboratory for experimentation and architectural practice. At the heart of the Festival is the idea of the "cabin", which is interpreted by architects, artists, designers and landscape architects to address a series of issues: how can we propose non-invasive architectural forms? What are the sustainable housing solutions of the future?

For the third edition of the festival, six temporary wooden cabins were built, designed by Ane Architecture, Manuel Bouzas, Campo & Diploma 20 Architectural Association, Huttopia, Lamécol, and Pratique Architecture.

The six invited groups related to the historic gardens in different ways: a cabin perched next to umbrella pines, inviting visitors to take refuge there to read; a pavilion inspired by classical Roman architecture set next to ancient vestiges; a small temple, a homage to Bramante, in which wood and fabric are woven together; a studiolo that subverts the codes of a cosy environment. Completing the ensemble are two prototype dwellings: an emergency space that can be assembled and disassembled in less than 15 minutes, and an energy self-sufficient shelter that rises to reveal new viewpoints.

Assembled in a matter of weeks, these temporary architectural structures meet the unchanging tranquillity of historic gardens. Designed in wood or using recycled materials, some blend seamlessly into the vegetation, while others wind their way above the hedges. Passing from cabin to cabin offers a new experience of Villa Medici gardens, while the deckchairs, tables and benches from the French Fermob collections scattered around the grounds invite pause and contemplation.