Le Coudray | 2023

“It is no exaggeration to say that school is a place that leaves a lifelong impression on us: the first day in preschool, starting primary school, and the initial impressions of transitioning to life in a community setting. From the moment we enter, we experience this unique world that, for a few years, will be the setting for foundational learning, discoveries, and life-shaping experiences. The spatial organization, light, atmosphere, materials, and even the smells are part of this formative journey. Lived daily, this experience must undoubtedly be positive and enriching. Our approach is rooted in creating a sensitive, sensual, and embodied environment.”

Located on a sloping site descending from Rue du Coudray, the project integrates into a vast area dedicated to serving the residents of Nantes. The site includes a neighborhood school and a sports complex, set in a high-quality landscape that offers a vital urban breathing space.

The project is based on a clear and functional organization, proposing an architecture that simultaneously inspires imagination, fosters aesthetic appreciation, and maintains a strong connection to reality. Warm and welcoming, its design introduces a new identity to the site, nearly 60 years after its original development. As a counterpoint to the functionalist rigor of the existing 1950s buildings, the architecture employs curves and dynamic features, such as playful roofs and windows, that reveal themselves progressively as visitors explore the site. Along the promenade-like forecourt extending northward, the volume evokes a playful world, with curved lines gently leading toward the school’s entrance.

The flowing curves connect seamlessly, forming a composition of roofs that poetically contrast with the strictly ordered backdrop of the existing structure. Because of the site’s slope, these roofs are particularly prominent and carefully designed. Instead of bright colors, the project adopts a soft palette and natural tones, ensuring a harmonious integration with the surroundings. The ground floor features a light brick base, providing a tactile and relatable scale for children. A brick’s size is easily grasped by a child’s hand, making the material approachable. Similarly, the use of wood reinforces this authentic and meaningful materiality. This choice not only ensures durability but also enables a gentle integration into the neighborhood.

The extensive use of wood is central to the proposal, both for renovating the existing facades and constructing new extensions. This choice aligns the Coudray school complex with contemporary values, emphasizing biosourced and low-carbon materials. Additionally, prefabricated wooden elements minimize on-site disruptions, facilitating phased construction and reducing nuisances for the surrounding area.

The design thus positions the Coudray school group firmly in the modern era, reflecting a commitment to sustainability and an enhanced learning environment. It celebrates the natural beauty of materials and the importance of creating a space where children can grow, play, and learn in a positive and inspiring setting.

Category:Schools and UniversitiesLocation:FranceArchitect: Bruno Trovalet, FranceDesign Team: urbanmakersPhotographer: Juan Cardona