Saint-Germain-en-Laye (78)
The aim of the Lycée de Saint Germain en Laye is to provide a high-quality education to students from kindergarten to high school, who will go on to international higher education establishments. The project proposes a functional organisation better suited to the teaching provided and the wealth of activities on offer. Its architectural treatment displays and conveys these values of excellence.
A unified and harmonised secondary school
The project is based on restructuring the existing building and building an extension in the central part, along the entire length of the available land. This extension is linked to the existing teaching building by footbridges at each level. This composition makes it possible to combine the secondary school premises into a single building, unified by larch wood cladding. The extension stretches out like a long internal street, following on from the forecourt, towards the existing, restructured building, taking all the secondary school students to their respective areas. It is organised around a large bioclimatic central atrium bathed in natural light. The outside areas have been redesigned to provide simple, intuitive circulation: pathways, green spaces, relaxation areas, playgrounds, etc.
Restructuring the elementary school and kindergarten
The premises of the elementary schools have been preserved. The main work consisted in improving access and flow by creating an additional staircase and lift linking the top 4 levels.
The kindergarten could not be renovated, so it was demolished, allowing the playground to be enlarged. The kindergarten is now located on the site of the former gymnasium, on the same level as the ground floor of the primary schools. All the premises, covered by a garden terrace roof and wooden facades, are built into the slope of the land on a single level. The development room, which is slightly higher and has an openwork wooden roof, stands out from the rest of the building. The premises face south and west. They are protected from the sun by a large canopy, extended by the courtyard. A large, naturally lit passageway leads from one room to another. The playground features play areas and small educational gardens.
The school complex has been redesigned as a forward-looking centre for educational innovation.
