Paris-based architecture firm Tracks Architectes has completed a new school in the heart of the historic town of Perthes-en-Gâtinais, located in the south of region Seine and Marne, France.

Called School La Rouche, the school is situated in an arboreous and pedestrian area and distinguished with its human-scale form and pitched roofs that create separate classes for children.

Covering a total of 1,028-square-metre area, the school was completed in only 10 months, with conscious efforts of reducing disturbance. "The city in which the project took place is a part of the regional natural park (PNRGF) which leads the project to be completed with highs environmental ambitions," said the architects.

The school building is built in both wood framing and cladding, and its linear layout creates a spacious area that encouraging the ongoing pedestrian nature of the mall and kindergarten location. 

"This new space is visually more generous and reinforces the bucolic and intimate nature of the undergrowth into which the new equipment is inserted," said Tracks Architectes.

"Coming to “life” this park provides the opportunity to continue its inscription in the history of the city and offers a generous space appropriable for all Perthes residents and their children."

The architects borrow its archetypal and typical geometry from the historic town center for the form of the project. The form of the building reinterprets their iconic profile to draw an appropriable symbol. 

The new school is set up on the same level, and in linear, which allows to create, volumetric identities distinct by space, with variable widths and heights by program. Inside these volumes able offer a particular spatiality and generous to the premises teaching. 

These volumes are very widely opened on the playgrounds and in the backdrop of the wooded “promenade”. All indoor spaces, designed with the ladder of early childhood as a major reference, are cradled in natural light, in bright and warm spaces. 

The scale pitched roof to 45°, draws a house like a child could do, simple, iconic, graphic. The bugs symbols applied in classroom gable are used indoors for signage.

The architects designed a courtyard composed of a large mineral space as an extension of the yard. Peripheral areas are covered with chips of wood called BRF, for the comfort of children and improve the living conditions of trees. 

The schoolyard is a real undergrowth with a soft ground and hard ground. Some trees are planted to allow for a gradual renewal of afforestation.

Located at the back of the school, there is an educational garden that is composed of elevated gardening trays for the youngest. An area dedicated to storm water collection; also creates a favorable environment for the development of biodiversity.

All images © Guillaume Amat

> via Tracks Architectes