School complex of the Olive Tree
The Pechbonnieu school complex was originally intended to be the rehabilitation and extension of an existing schooling facility. However, an In depth analysis of the social cost of carbon, conducted during the competition phase, led the project team to propose an entirely new construction while remaining within budget. The existing school building lacked the capacity for sustainable transformation; its demolition would free up land and allow for a reimagined urban future. The creation of the school on the site enables broader development scenarios for the town, while the unification of primary and nursery levels offers the opportunity for children to grow and learn together from an early age.
The project rethinks the traditional school typology, envisioning it as a more open, flexible, and shared space. Designed as a highly compact, square-shaped building, it concentrates shared spaces — such as the library and multipurpose hall — at the center. This configuration minimizes circulation distances and encourages interaction across different age groups.
With its compact form and straightforward, raw structure, the building delivers a thoughtful architectural response to contemporary challenges: doing more with less. Achieved at a construction cost of €1,270 excl. taxes per m² of floor area, the project demonstrates both constructive intelligence and tight budget control.
Context
Located in a suburban neighborhood near Pechbonnieu’s historic center, the new school complex forms a new urban anchor in connection with the nearby shopping center. Its central placement organizes a variety of open spaces across an irregular plot and supports urban densification. The building’s multi-faceted design responds to the surrounding context: the main southern entrance opens onto a welcoming public square, while the northern access ensures smooth circulation, linking the commercial area with the adjacent gymnasium.
Two separate, screened playgrounds provide secure, age-appropriate outdoor spaces. Surrounded by dense vegetation, the compact layout preserves over 8,000 m² of land, offering the municipality flexibility for future development.
The hall
Located in the heart of Pechbonnieu, the school’s central hall stands out for its urban potential. It connects both the preschool and elementary school, while also linking two parts of the town. Usually open to children during the day, it can also be opened to the city for special events. Designed as a through-space, it becomes a place of gathering and interaction for children, parents, and local residents. Covering 150 m², it adapts to both current and future uses. The purpose of this space goes beyond its strictly educational function, without ever compromising its essential requirements. The school thus presents itself as a place open to the city.
Patios
All spaces within the school complex were carefully designed to meet the programme requirements : proportions, surface areas, natural light, acoustic and thermal comfort, and day-to-day use were all rigorously studied to create an environment conducive to learning. The building is organized into two distinct volumes, connected by a central hall.
Each of these two wings contains a strategic core space: one houses a library, the other a motor skills room. Their central placement ensures easy access from all parts of the school, optimizing circulation and use. These double-height volumes, generously lit by overhead natural light, offer calm and high-quality atmospheres that promote concentration and well being. Conceived as protective bubbles within the school, they serve as refuges where children can refocus, spark their imagination, or engage in physical activity. In line with a bioclimatic approach, these spaces also contribute to the building’s natural night-time ventilation, helping cool the structure during periods of high heat.
The materials
The entire project is structured around a deliberately simple load-bearing system, designed to offer maximum spatial flexibility. Only the façades and the patio walls are load-bearing, thereby freeing up the interior floorplates. This structural grid, with 10-meter spans, allows for fully modular partitioning and anticipates future changes by enabling easy reconfiguration of the interior layout.
Each material is carefully selected for its specific function and intentionally left exposed. Raw concrete is used for the structure, while partitions are made of plaster. The ceilings, treated with spray-on insulation, are not concealed by suspended ceilings, making the role and nature of each element clearly visible. This minimalist approach — both in the range and quantity of materials — has made it possible to control costs without compromising on quality.
The design also incorporates a strong commitment to reuse. A significant portion of the furniture was salvaged from the demolished former school, and finishing materials were selected from surplus stock held by local craftsmen — a choice that reflects both an ethos of resourcefulness and a desire to give existing materials new value.
Exterior spaces
The kindergarten and elementary school playgrounds are designed as rectangular open spaces, free of hidden corners, to ensure optimal visibility and child supervision. They are flexible and modular and can be subdivided into smaller zones based on needs. Vegetation plays a central role, providing shade and contributing to the creation of a natural cooling island.
Each playground is conceived as a space adapted to the varied needs of children — places to talk, sit, play, run, or rest — offering a balance between active and quiet zones. The vast majority of ground surfaces are permeable, helping to prevent water runoff.
The kindergarten playground offers a rich diversity of environments: a sports field to channel energy, soft-surfaced mounds with integrated play equipment (such as slides), a learning garden to observe the cycles of nature throughout the seasons, and calm, shaded areas under trees for quiet moments.
In the elementary school playground, the layout responds to the needs of older children: a sports field and running track, a shaded plaza with ping-pong tables and benches for social interaction, and planted islands offering spaces for rest and relaxation.
