A vision for a hilltop retreat in central Italy where people of any faith could seek inner peace. Assagioli’s 1924 vision for the House of Peace.
By Roberto Assagioli
Doc. #23122, Assagioli Archives, Florence.
November 1924.
Original title: La Casa di Pace
Translated by Jan Kuniholm
Editorial Note
The abstract and contextual subtitle in this online edition have been added by the editor, Kenneth Sørensen, to support readability, navigation, and archival consistency. The original wording has not been altered.
Abstract
Roberto Assagioli observes that modern nervousness has revived an ancient longing for recollection. After upheavals, he notes, people have always sought out monasteries. He proposes a modern equivalent: the House of Peace, a refuge in central Italy where people of any belief could meet without dispute, find harmony within themselves, and return to active life renewed. He calls for international supporters to help realise it.
The frantic nervousness of modern living, and the great war that feverishly intensified the pace of life and the reaction that followed, aroused in many people a desire for simpler and more natural conditions of existence, for a more harmonious and peaceful ideal of life.
At other times, after great historical upheavals and periods of spiritual restlessness, men flocked to monasteries, to seek peace and rest there in contemplation and solitude. In our time many of us feel a longing for recollection; to be in a small room from which the eye freely surveys nature, to try to find harmony and One’s Own Truth within oneself, even for a short time, in order to return to active life with restored and rested energy.
“The House of Peace” is conceived as a modern cloister — where men of various confessions and beliefs can benevolently meet and in quiet contemplation seek to regain their own balance and faith in their own strength and life, each for himself, without struggle or dispute.
It will rise in central Italy, on a hill overlooking its surroundings. The noble lines of the simple building, inspired by Tuscan architecture, will give a sense of restful spiritual elevation. The small cell-like rooms in neutral colors, built in compliance with the needs of modern comfort, will allow light in and will be designed with every care — simply furnished yet with good artistic taste.
The small library will have a collection of specially chosen works, and there will be a music room, built with excellent acoustics. And here the compositions of the great masters will exert their beneficial and elevating influence.
In the garden, which the guests of the house themselves will lovingly care for, birds will find a safe haven, and together with St. Francis’ Canticle of the Sun carved in the stone set into one of the walls of the cloister, they will lead one’s thought towards a joyful understanding of all creation.
* * *
In order for “The House of Peace” to have a universal character it is necessary to find followers and supporters of our provisional program outline both in Italy and abroad. The groups of supporters should take note of all the ideas that our program will have awakened, and after discussion formulate their proposals for the realization of the project and possibly also preparing sketches and plans for the construction of the Cloister. At the appointed time one or more trustees from each country will meet in a preparatory plenary session — in order to be able to finally set the general rules.
In case some groups are unable to be represented, they will have their proposals sent to the headquarters of the Organizing Committee in writing, signed by all members who will have to commit themselves to active campaigning in the search for the necessary funds. The sums collected will be respectively kept in the country of origin at a bank — until the Delegates’ Committee has decided to start the work — in which case all sums will be paid into an Italian bank.
