french school | frederic schoeller

Perfectly fit in the site of the city centre, heavily inclined, Epernon nursery school keeps a clear unity with the existing school. This unity and the surrounding landscape park give the scale of the urban centre and energize bike and pedestrian tracks in this neighbourhood. The school lands on the site such as a large viewpoint indicator in wood and planted. It will be the reference level at same high that the primary school playground. This terrace will be used for observations or playground. It protects the all volume of the school and will become a landmark in Epernon town.

The nursery school, of modest proportions, with its impact assume a major place in the everyday life on 3 points:

1 / the new link between centre town and la Regratterie street through a path enclosed with sandstone walls (Carriers) in the new "enfants sages" park. A gentle slope takes you to the school entrance, and carry on following the curve. This is a new course to cross around Epernon.

2/ Through legacy recollection of town past of the quarry workers, indirect references can be seen in stonewalls and mineral finishing of the school. For example, Epernon cobblestone, used by Haussmann will be highlight in the "enfants sages" park and bench could be made in recuperating the buhr mill (flint). Materials are fitted together with dry join for rainwater infiltration in the ground.

3/ The new "enfants sages" parc is a filter between the street and the school which let catch a glimpse the horizontal school's roof at 4,75m height. This park will reveal biodiversity with herbs et plants, spontaneous flora of Eure et Loire. Children observe nesting boxes and make pedagogical gardens as a daily occupation.

The shady garden is a central area for gathering, an obliged place to cross but privileged for all the pedestrians.

The school take as an asset its relation with the historic quarry worker's house, which become the schoolhouse. Kitchen and relaxation area are located in it. The new school reveal also the old surrounding wall of the town, which mark the level's gap between the two schools. A ramp allows passage between the two schools

An other asset is the formation of an educational entity (elementary school, nursery, music school):

-through existing geometry dutifully studies and generating an horizontal, calm and sober school used as a reference plan with elementary school and

-through developing of the playground area and  circulations between schools.

School's facades:  On South and West glazed facades are protected with an overhang flat roof, 2,26m large which lets go through heat during winter has a free energy and covers the glasses during summer and intermediate season.

School's roof: Observation place for new teaching modern methods, it is conceived with a wood floor surrounding with steps which allos view above guard wall of 1,45m high. A part is planted with extensive vegetation.     

School functionality.

School functional diagram is simple. On low level is school's entrance inside park of "enfants sages". A large path brings from the new sycamores street where arrive bus, cars, to school entrance. Facing entrance, you find the covered playground. On right with a view on the front gate, are located administration and after-school area, opposite playroom and on left classrooms with rest area.

Restaurant adjoins quarry workers house where is the kitchen. Restaurant and play room open on a large patio of 10m2 with the ramp along the old existing stone wall to the elementary school. School roof can be use by elementary and nursery school.

A large circulation, under skylight with benches, coat rack and sanitary, on a simple line goes through all project.

Underlines though luminous transparency, which cross the school from covered playground until patio, school's entrance is clear from the entire site. The new school is a simple, luminous volume associated with the renovated quarry workers house to be inscribing in site history.

All prescriptions allow a low energy building.