After 12 years of negotiations for permission to renovate and expand the buildings on the Tassonneyres estate a project could be established that was deemed acceptable by all the administrations concerned. We have now received a construction permit (March 6th 2020).

The project entails new buildings in the central and Eastern part of the complex and some renovations for the Western building, which houses the library.

A permit to construct a Stupa as well as a memorial building was also obtained.

The Tassoneyres estate lies outside the boundary of regular living zone, so the government made a number of restrictions on the use of the living space:

• The habitation is to be used on a temporary bases: for studies, meditations, participation in activities of the centre. It is generally not possible to use it as one's primary residence.
• Registration as primary residence is possible for a limited number of persons fulfilling necessary tasks like: gardener, librarian, caretaker of the property, worker for Rabten Edition.
• The habitation can be rented, but cannot be acquired as one's personal property.

Financing:

In order to allow additional buildings, the Tassonneyres estate has been classified for use by religious organisations. As side-effect of this classification the banks will not lend us any funds for construction, because the property could only be sold to other religious groups, which is considered as too small a market for regular bank loans.

In order to realise to project we therefore depend on the advance funds of the participants. The prices shown for the rooms and apartments have been calculated on the bases of the architect's estimated cost of the project. It seems possible to reduce the total cost of the project, in which case the participations will also be reduced.

The cost of a habitation consists of the rent, maintenance, heating, water, etc. The prices shown are an advance rent for 20 years. If the habitation is no longer used by a participant, Rabten Foundation will return the remaining advance as soon as possible.

Additional cost will be solely the use of electricity, heating, water, taxes, administration. We expect a cost of about 3 CHF per square meter per month.

If you have no advance funds available but would like to rent a room, please also let us know. We will try to find a solution.