paul le quernec: childcare facility in boulay, france

‘childcare facility’ by paul le quernec, boulay, france all images © paul le quernec

strasbourg-based architect paul le quernec has sent us images of his two recently completed ‘childcare facilities’ located in boulay and the other fifteen kilometers away in piblange, france. built simultaneously and differing in gross floor area from 350 m2 to 1000m2 the nurseries are based on a uterine concept where the architecture takes into consideration the fragility and need for protection.

entrance to foyer

to avoid dead-ends for vehicle circulation the buildings are accessed through a one-way lane which limits parking and decreases the risk of accidents involving pedestrians. the drop-off area is located next to the sidewalk so the parents do not have to cross the street where the entrance is set back from the road and from on coming traffic.

dot motif

projected roof

play area

the undulating exterior follows the interior circulation of the building which is organized around a protected central space where the views are centrifugal and centripetal. at the core of the nursery, a circus tent-like wooden structure expands to a three meter wide vaulted ceiling made of polycarbonate to allow daylight to filter into the facility throughout the entire day.

vaulted ceiling

all the mechanical and administrative spaces are located on the north side of the building so the south area is reserved for the children. the playground is shielded from sun or rain with an extended roof. even though the structures are designed with atypical shapes, they were constructed using traditional methods and materials. the façades are made of insulating clay bricks, covered by 20 cm think re-enforced mineral wool, which were then covered with a classic coating and painted according to the dot pattern.

play area

the load bearing internal walls are made of reinforced concrete which support the laminated wooden beams which are curved shaped and are mass-produced to decrease the manufacturing cost. a single layer damp-proof membrane covers the roof while perforated plaster boards protect the ceiling improving the acoustical comfort of the space. the under-flooring heating system is finished in linoleum which matches the color of the internal solvent-free ecological paints. the doors and windows are made of wood to reach BBC (low energy-use building) energy performance.

rounded corners

optimal views of the play area from the washroom

washroom facility

interior curves that lead to washing area

(left) hallway (right) bending dividing wall

(left) workspace (right) green room

staff room

undulating exterior

the building in context

overhead canopy

view of the roof’s timber framework

wooden roof structure

interior oculus

curving wooden beams close the roof

single membrane for roof

(left) detail of exterior pattern (right) finished wall

drawing the design of the facade

rendering of completed structure

roof plan

plan

section-elevation

rendering

axonometric diagram of interior spaces

‘nursery’ by paul le quernec, piblange, france

exterior

exterior detail of roof

panorama of foyer space

(left) cubby storage (right) entrance to other spaces

play area

central skylight

construction process

roof plan

plan

section-elevation

rendered section-elevation

axonometric drawing

perspective rendering

project info:

client: communauté de communes du pays boulageois architect: paul le quernec assistant architects: damla oktay, michel grasso, benjamin ringeisen, guillaume jenny engineering firms: hn ingénierie,structural consultant solares bauen, consultant specialized in fluides & environmental consultancy e3 économie, construction economist contractors: muller, wig france, mathis, lorscheider-lorenzini, bonecher, ergenekon, rucho-sippel, smf, ugur deniz, appel, prinz, peintures réunies, keip, houllé, spirk, cuisine pro

paul le quernec architectes (6)