situated within the gidy island in orleans, france, architecture practice dominique coulon & associés has realized yet another educational building. the school group consists of fourteen classes, accommodating both nursery and elementary students, corresponding to the needs of the local community. challenging the large-scale standards of urban architecture, the project generates a village-like atmosphere achieved by applying volumetric arrangements that make the building appear smaller than it is.

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all images by dominique coulon & associés

 

 

the outdoor areas of the educational establishment by dominique coulon & associés are divided into a number of layers. the line of the car parking area follows that of the forecourt, which blends into the surrounding forest area. in this way, a close connection is formed between the woods and the school’s playground, providing both a transitional and an educational link with the landscape. the two playgrounds, placed alongside each other, open out towards the village of gidy. they are designed to extend the geometry of the building, providing two separate entrances to the school on two levels: the nursery is placed on the first level, and the primary school on the second.

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the irregularities of the built environment break the hard line of the traffic route, as the area expands in terms of both ground plan and cross-section, thereby offering interesting, alternating walkway options and views. the same principle is applied to the classrooms: they are designed as small houses, of differing sizes, each one facing in two directions. on the upper level, the classrooms open towards a terrace that can house outdoor educational activities.

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other additional elements in the programme, including the canteen, rest rooms and the library, are distributed around the building, adding to its visual depth. as a result, the multipurpose hall is totally open to traffic, again allowing space to expand, as the play of transparency allows the building to be read on a number of levels. these arrangements ensure that the building offers children the opportunity to appropriate the different areas and feel comfortable in them. by seeking to create indeterminate places, the structure avoids areas with a single function and is able to offer greater flexibility: as a result, the school generates open areas with individual function and character. 

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project info:

name: olympe de gouges group of schools in gidy
designer: dominique coulon & associés
location: gidy, orleans, france
area: 3,364 m2

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom