‘primary school in beausoleil’ by calori azimi botineau architects in beausoleil, france all images courtesy calori azimi botineau photographer: serge demailly

‘primary school in beausoleil’ by nice-based practice calori azimi botineau architects (CAB) is a three-storey educational facility and community/leisure center in the south of france. inserted into the natural topography of the sloped site, the project maximizes on its surface area by stacking multiple playgrounds on the pivoting volumes. 

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilexterior view of roof tops

bound on one side by the ‘moyenne corniche’, an arterial road linking italy to nice, and the ‘bretelle du centre’, a local road that winds around the hillside towards monaco, the site is limited in its footprint. in addition, in order to preserve the views toward the mediterranean, the design was limited in its height which resulted in a series of stepped-down volumes. the natural terrain is referenced by the offset stacking of each level, resembling the local agricultural tradition of stepped terraces.

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleil (left) drop off zone (right) access to roof top playground

the bottom of the site provides access for parents dropping off their children while the top entrance off of the moyenne corniche accommodates staff parking on the roof of the building. each shifting volumes host the different programs – kindergarten, primary school, and canteen/leisure centre – creating a clear and autonomous system of organization.

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleiloutdoor play area

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleil

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilglazing

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilinterior view

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilcirculation space

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleil (left) classroom view (right) outdoor space

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilaerial view

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilon site

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilin context

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilprocess diagram

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilsite plan

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilfloor plan / level 0

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilfloor plan / level +1

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilfloor plan / level +2

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilfloor plan / level +3

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilsection a-a

calori azimi botineau architects: primary school in beausoleilsection b-b

project info: client: town of beausoleil architects: jean-patrice calori, bita azimi, marc botineau)

colours and graphics: polly brotherwood structural engineers: turra heating: enerscop economics: artemis technical inspection services: veritas heavy construction/structural works: leon grosse sealing: seri metalwork: fossat joinery: dandon plumbing: cepitelli electricity: multitec lifts: kone