nursery
HISTORY OF THE PAVILION
The “Ribambelle” crèche project takes place in the former occupational therapy building in Neuilly-sur-Marne. The latter was attached to the Ville-Evrard psychiatric hospital in the commune of Neuilly-sur-Marne, built in 1868 by the architect Paul Eugène Lequeux. Between 1900 and 1909, the hospital expanded and pavilions were built, including the occupational therapy building which was initially used as a refectory. These new pavilions, often on the ground floor, are organized according to a so-called “English” layout so that patients can move around freely. This new mass plan is made up of numerous green spaces planted with chestnut trees; even today, the site presents remarkable landscape qualities.
It is thanks to this ease of circulation and the relationship between the pavilions and nature that around the 1950s the refectory changed its purpose to become the occupational therapy building. It is a paramedical profession that encourages patients with mental illnesses to be more autonomous so that they can develop their independence and rehabilitate in daily life.
The characteristics of the pavilion are therefore ideal; on one level and directly opening onto a shaded garden. Indeed, the landscaped aspect of the site plays a major role in the design of the occupational therapy pavilion and we relied on this characteristic of the place to guide our project. We based our architectural approach on a desire to revitalize the spirit of the current site.
A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS ENVIRONMENT
Today the exterior boundaries of the pavilion have been redesigned, and the crèche now benefits from clearly identifiable green spaces. To the east, a narrow strip allows the building to be distanced from future housing. To the south, a space reserved for parking cars and staff bicycles and through which delivery services and emergency services can access the building. Finally, the nursery benefits from the west-facing garden, protected by large chestnut trees, ideal conditions for children to enjoy this outdoor space during organized outings.
Initially, the pavilion faces the park, the entrance is from the south, at the end of an avenue planted with chestnut trees. The ZAC Maison-Blanche urban project offers a new direction; rue Paul Verlaine becomes one of the main roads. It is from this side that children accompanied by their parents will access the Ribambelle crèche. The south entrance is maintained but will be reserved exclusively for nursery staff, it will have alarm-type access control.
In this rehabilitation project, we decided to preserve the exterior appearance of the building as much as possible. On the other hand, we are carrying out a restructuring inside the building. As it stands, the plan is organized lengthwise, on either side of a central circulation. We positioned the circulation to the east in order to orient as many living rooms as possible towards the garden and which then benefit from the light from the West and a greater setback compared to the new housing. Along the building to the west, a play area made of soft cushioning flooring has been created, out of sight and away from the public pedestrian paths of Avenue Paul Verlaine.
Circulation becomes the common thread of the project, it is generous and thickens in places to house the children's changing rooms, at the entrance to the playrooms. It is bordered by an element of furniture, these are locker furniture made of birch plywood which will give a warm and playful aspect to the space.
In order to remain strictly within the existing envelope, we chose to create a second partial level of approximately 150m² at the south end of the pavilion which will accommodate the staff unit with the meeting room, the relaxation and changing rooms.
To overcome this surface constraint, we created three exterior storage buildings. These three small buildings being at the heart of the protected green space, we paid particular attention to ensuring that they contribute to the landscaped character of the garden and its animation. Their plan strictly follows the shape of a circle and refers to a building frequently found in parks, which is the kiosk. We worked on their exterior appearance with brick, a material which strongly characterizes the site and contributes to the overall harmony of the rehabilitation project of the occupational therapy pavilion. Each building uses a different brickwork in order to offer diversity in the appearance of these three buildings. The three devices are treated in moucharabieh, which allows its buildings not to have a massive appearance, moreover they are very well ventilated.
DEVELOPMENT AND RESPECT FOR THE BUILDING
For this rehabilitation project of the former occupational therapy pavilion, we sought to respect as much as possible the volume and appearance of the building. This includes integrating all the technical elements inside in order to modify the facade as little as possible. We carried out work to integrate the technical equipment at the substation level in order to conceal them as best as possible.
The project also provides for the restoration of the exterior appearance of the building while respecting the original materials, the complete renovation of the brick parts, with an identical replacement of the missing bricks and repair of singular points. A stripping wash is carried out and the joints are filled with mortar. The moldings, bands and cornices will be washed by stripper, the fragile or demolished parts are rebuilt identically. The tile covering is revised with an identical replacement of the damaged tiles in order to preserve the characteristic appearance of the roof of the flag. The joinery will be removed during the construction phase and redone identically with wooden frames to which white paint will be applied. The building's solar protection will be provided by vertical exterior blinds which are fixed in the same way as the existing blinds, on the central transom of the windows.
The program is installed along the length of the building, from north to south:
+reception areas for parents and children, and management;
+the medium-large unit;
+the small-means unit;
+logistics and staff spaces on two levels
The play and catering areas for young, medium and large children face directly onto the outdoor recreation areas to the west. From the street, a certain transparency allows visibility of the equipment, while protecting children whose living spaces have been carefully placed out of sight.
