NAS architecture inserts wooden extension to old nursery school in france

the school was originally built in 1953 as a public bath, which explains the peculiarity of its architecture and its ornaments.

NAS edited by myrto katsikopoulou May 28, 2020 3 min

NAS architecture has built an extension for the ‘les calades’ nursery school, located between the limit of the city center and the beginning of the suburban fabric in saint-gilles, france. the school was built in 1953 as a public bath and became a kindergarten in 1979, which explains the peculiarity of its architecture and its ornaments. due to the obsolescence of the equipment, the architects carried out major rehabilitation operations on the occupied site.

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atrium view
all images courtesy of NAS architecture

the school, that was renovated by NAS architecture, now consists of four classrooms, a dormitory, a canteen, teaching spaces, extracurricular areas, a hall serving as an indoor courtyard and two courtyards. as for the extension, in order not to clutter up the playgrounds, it was decided to create a palimpsest by taking possession of existing roofs. thus, different entities, constructive systems and constructed temporalities are superimposed. the wooden structure was favored because of its speed of implementation, guaranteeing a clean site and highlighting the use of bio-sourced materials.

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past and present confrontation

the extension project sets up a game of porosity between interior and exterior. at dawn, it transparently reveals the structure of the spaces, while during the day, the reflection and opacity of the blinds creates a contrasting exterior appearance. the openings of the extensions have been designed highlight the rhythm of the primary structure, and the sizing of the bays makes it possible to comply with thermal regulations. the aluminum panels are raised at an irregular rate, breaking the rigorous cadence of the wooden structure. thus, the openings invite the landscape into the classrooms, punctuating the image of the city that they frame. at the heart of the school, there is an atrium, a veritable place of articulation and gathering, which enables the rehabilitated spaces on the ground floor to be kept in constant contact with the spaces created upstairs.

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principal view

the wooden structure shapes the identity of the school premises, contributes to its acoustics and materializes its atmosphere. the extension is organized around a central frame grouping the sheaths and storage, freeing up the shelves to guarantee the flexibility of the building over time. the interior volumes are generous and offer quality learning environments that highlight the heritage of the city of saint gilles. the whole project by NAS architects proposes a complementary architecture which creates a new identity for the school while respecting the traces of the past.

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school entrance

the intervention in the occupied site was quick, clean and secure, with the entire wooden structure produced in workshops and assembled on site. the materials used were limited and corresponded to the construction system implemented. this restraint made it possible to offer places suitable for children while promoting an honest architectural expression.

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stairs view

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view from the main street

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view from schoolyard

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classroom

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classroom

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view from schoolyard

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atrium view

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protected space in the schoolyard

project info:

name: rehabilitation and extension of ‘les calades’ school in saint-gilles
designer: NAS architecture
location: saint-gilles, occitanie, france
area: 770 m²

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