School Complex Simone Veil
The Simone Veil school complex in Vertou is a new facility housing two vertically stacked schools. A nursery school with eight classrooms is located on the lower level, and a primary school with twelve classrooms is located above.
INTEGRATION INTO THE LANDSCAPE
The complexity of the site lies in its slope: a terrain with significant level differences, while both entities—the nursery school and the primary school—require strictly level spaces.
In response to this constraint, we chose not to fight the topography but to work with it. The roof thus becomes a true architectural crowning, a continuous line that follows the contours of the land, at times almost brushing the ground. This gesture allows the building to integrate naturally into the landscape, without rupture, establishing a calm and balanced relationship with its surroundings.
OUR VISION OF THE SCHOOL: A REASSURING SPACE
Topographical considerations also shaped our vision of the school. We chose to place the nursery school on the lower level and the primary school on the upper level, in order to respond both to the site’s constraints and to the specific needs of each age group.
The building is organized around a central void, creating for the youngest children a courtyard that takes the form of a luminous, protective cloister, conceived as a sanctuary. This configuration also allowed us to preserve an existing tree, which has become the living heart of this space: a landmark, a symbol, and a direct connection to life.
We are convinced that a school should not only be a place for knowledge transfer but also a space for personal growth. This is achieved through the creation of gentle, sensitive, and inspiring spatial experiences. All classrooms open onto the landscape, providing light and depth.
MATERIALITY
Materiality has been a central focus of the project. Wood is omnipresent, both on the façades and in the structures and frameworks. This choice not only allows the use of bio-sourced materials but also produces a unique quality of light: before reaching the interior spaces, the light takes on the warmth of the wood, creating a soft, enveloping atmosphere. Moreover, these vertical patterns cut through the light, giving it rhythm and texture.
The preservation of the existing tree, combined with these construction choices, reflects a clear intention: to respect life and anchor the school in a lasting relationship with its environment.
CONCLUSION
At our agency, we are committed to designing spaces that are not only beautiful and strong but also deeply attentive to their users. The school holds a pivotal place in our society, and having the opportunity to provide teachers and children with a facility worthy of this mission is both a responsibility and a privilege. Knowing that children are already thriving in these spaces, and imagining that many generations will grow up here, gives full meaning to our work and reminds us of how we approach architecture: to make life easier, but also to move the heart.
