Collège de la Romanellaz
The new school building with 6 primary classes, 2 kindergarten, a gym and auditorium is situated in the middle of the village, right next to the historic centre. The children come from all directions and the view on all sides is exciting. Consequently, the building does not have a specific orientation and can be entered from two sides on two different levels. The large construction volume is integrated into the small-scale setting by two recesses and several bends in the roof, forcing itself into the tight building perimeter.
The school is organised around a double central staircase which is the unifying element that links all four floors to each other and at the same time allows for escape over two separate fire compartments in the event of a fire. Thanks to the central layout of the two staircases, corridors are avoided and the circulation area is minimal yet can be used on all floors as a spacious foyer. Although large parts of the building are sunken, all the classrooms are lit from two sides, the gym even from three sides.
The seemingly randomly arranged façade openings do not follow an externally imposed design principle but are a direct reproduction of the organisation inside. The lintel and parapet details show affiliation with local vernacular elements but are formally alienated and functionally reinterpreted to accomodate technical elements such as sunscreens.
