primary school in a post-industrial area

Naturally, in harmony with nature above all.

Naturally, with respect for the surrounding urban context.

Naturally, on a scale adapted to its users.

Naturally, in search of public and semi-public spaces.

Naturally, focused on sustainability and ecology.

Naturally… made from local oak wood.

 
Urban Planning. NATURELLE is a comprehensive project aimed at revitalizing a post-industrial area and harmonizing it with the existing environment by establishing new spatial relationships. The nearby large-scale residential developments create a complex and challenging neighborhood from an urban planning perspective. Therefore, the proposal for the Le Foron school complex focuses on fostering a dialogue between the diverse scales of surrounding buildings, while clearly and decisively advocating for low-rise development and terraces.

The simple yet sculpted form of the building is shaped by two main axes: one running parallel to the Voie Verte (Green Way), along which the gymnasium is located, and another aligned linearly with the façade of the new residential estate, which structures the main school space and gives clarity to the geometry of the building’s elevation.

To the south, the building’s form extends diagonally, aligning with pedestrian access to the residential complex, and its lower part integrates into the continuation of the pathway. This is a deliberate design intended to create a pause for passersby and invite them inside. There, the main entrance is located—via a terrace under a large covered structure. The upper section is recessed, aligning with the adjacent building, thus creating urban synergy.

The residential pathway, guided downward by the diagonal form of the ground floor, gently slopes and leads to the Foron path, nestled among old trees that form a natural gateway. From the street side, potential users of the building are clearly guided inward.