• fr
  • Epicuria Architectes
    Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni in Guyane

    Polyvalent High School

    At the heart of an exceptional natural heritage, the new polyvalent high school of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni seeks to make the link between a rich and lush nature and a population coming from many horizons.

    The construction of the Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni polyvalent high school is part of the redevelopment of its neighborhood, Balate Nord, whose environmental objectives are high. And for good reason, the natural heritage is exceptionally rich.

    The first objective was to reflect the powerful link that the site and its inhabitants have with nature. We wanted to provide students from a wide range of backgrounds, languages and cultures with a green setting, while building a major public institution, an urban landmark in the district and a symbol of knowledge and culture for all. The school is located on the main square. The link with nature is expressed by a luxuriant garden that crosses the site and along which the buildings are organised, linked by footbridges. Water, which is ubiquitous in Saint Laurent du Maroni, meanders along the length of the garden, guiding visitors towards knowledge and the lycée, and providing a little coolness during the hottest part of the day. The garden continues onto the forecourt, a place where students from different backgrounds can meet and exchange ideas.

    The three buildings, built like three ships moored to their home port, symbolically project out into the public space, opening up beautiful views both inside and outside the school. The auditorium and the CDI, located at the bow of the forecourt, are important vectors of image in this up-and-coming district.

    The second objective was to enhance the value of professionnal education by locating it at the heart of the school to encourage exchanges and mutual enrichment between disciplines and with general education. The spatial and functional organisation of the buildings reflects this aim. Professionnal education is organised into a coherent centre on the ground floor of the building, at the heart of the school.

    Constructed from a mix of wood and concrete, the building is based on the principle of bioclimatic architecture, using natural ventilation.

    Read more Read less
    Operation
    2019 – Construction of a high school with 1,050 students, a restaurant with a production kitchen for 1,400 meals/day, an auditorium with 200 seats and a sports hall
    Surface
    16 704 m2
    Budget
    38,44 M€HT
    Achievement
    Winner in 2019 – Under construction
    Project management
    Territorial Collectivity of French Guyana
    Architects
    Epicuria Architectes, lead architect / Amarante, associated architect
    Consultant
    Détails Paysage / EGIS / SOLENER / OVERDRIVE / LGS Ingénierie / AXYAL / SIGMA
    Company
    In separate parts
    Environmental profile
    HQE Amazon standard
    Load more photos

    Similar projects

    Alexandre Denis high school
    Cerny (91)

    More info

    Philibert Dessaignes high school
    Blois (41)

    More info

    Array ( [0] => 66 )