Gaëtan Le Penhuel & Associés employs a restrained architectural style with light-coloured solid brick volumes and rounded corners that reflect the elegant vaults of the neighbouring auditorium
The project is divided into two buildings, the nursery school to the east and the primary school to the west. The schools are connected by a large common area on the ground floor that connects directly to a large green courtyard that opens onto the neighbourhood, becoming an urban oasis and a plaza for residents.
The nursery school is divided into four spaces, each housing a different atmosphere and colour scheme. These spaces are organised around a central plaza that provides natural light to the interior spaces. In both the nursery and primary school, the classes are connected to each other by sliding partitions, allowing socialisation between classes, abandoning the idea of a traditional classroom.
Bondy by Gaëtan Le Penhuel & Associés. Photograph by Takuji Shimura.
Project description by Gaëtan Le Penhuel & Associés
At the heart of the town of Bondy, the Camille Claudel school complex is ideally located within a shared educational and cultural hub, between suburban areas and large housing estates.
Its strategic position at the junction of the town's new auditorium and junior high school, coupled with the town's desire to make this building the school for future, made it a highly ambitious and innovative neighbourhood project.
Created for the youngest, but also for local residents, the modularity and flexibility are the guiding principles of its design.
The project aims to support the physical, educational and social development of its child users. The objective of this school venture is to enable the children to develop and flourish, from the moment they start nursery school (some as young as 2 years old) right through to their departure at the age of 11.
A bold project
The public facility is divided into two buildings: the nursery school to the east and the primary school to the west, enabling children to easily find their way.
To reflect the spatial qualities of a neighbourhood with a wide range of architectural styles, we are suggesting an architectural style that is sober and long-lasting, with volumes in light-coloured solid brick. The new public building is rounded at its corners, mirroring the elegant vaults of the neighbouring auditorium.
The two schools are connected on the ground floor by a large common area, which includes the foyers and the library. This "interconnecting" space is directly linked to the large green forecourt and opens the school group's into the neighbourhood. It can be used outside school hours as a library and playroom for children and their parents.
Premises shared with the local community are located along the pedestrian walkway leading to the junior high school. The multipurpose hall can be used as a sports or dance hall for schoolchildren and for evening gymnastics classes by local residents. Semi-professional music recording rooms are also available for all audiences, in particular young adults.
The positioning of the sports ground, directly connected to the playground and the public pathway, means that teenagers can take part in sports after school.
In continuity of the street, the playground has been designed as a real urban oasis and a potential square for residents. It is home to individual and group games, a plant-filled amphitheatre and a shaded terrace for picnics. The school cafeteria is complemented by an educational kitchen, which can be used for culinary events. This cultural space makes it possible for residents of different origins to share their traditions and culinary skills.
The idea of an educational journey
The principle of a journey also extends to the design of the interior spaces of the school complex.
The "villages" of the nursery school
The nursery school is made up of four clearly identified "villages", each with a different atmosphere and colour scheme, to mark the children's progress from Nursery to Upper sections. These "villages" are each organised around a "central square", equipped with benches and full of natural light. All these areas can be used by both the pupils and the teaching staff.
The nursery class areas can communicate with each other thanks to a retractable sliding partition wall. Children can leave the confines of their classroom and share activities with children from other classes.
Each of these educational units is on the same level as a dedicated playground, linked to the large playground and its covered play area, as well as to the large nursery playroom.
The "shared streets" at the primary school
The school area for older children is located on the first and second floors and is served by a wide interior street.
Transformed into an "active strip" it also has a number of benches for sitting on. As a result, it becomes an informal, fun place to learn, complementary to the classroom environment.
Depending on the teachers' educational projects, the classes can connect one another or the central passageways. The aim is to open the traditional classroom so that all children can gradually become more sociable.
An evolving school
the project has been designed as an ongoing process of dialogue with users throughout the planning phase.
The end result is a school group where every pupil can feel both free and protected. It aims to provide spatial support for an evolving educational model and an improved relationship between adults and children.
The town of Bondy offers to regularly monitor the use of the spaces to adapt them, when necessary, to changes in teaching methods and the needs of teachers. This ongoing exchange with users will help us improve our design for future schools.
