Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes / Dominique Coulon & associés

Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes / Dominique Coulon & associés

Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - WindowsSimone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - Image 3 of 32Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - WindowsSimone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - Facade, WindowsSimone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - More Images+ 27

Colombes, France
  • Architects In Charge: Dominique Coulon, Olivier Nicollas
  • Architects Assistants: Guillaume Wittmann, Emilie Brichard, Jean Scherer, David Romero-Uzeda, Diego Bastos-Romero
  • Client: Ville de Colombes
  • Cost Estimator: E3 Economie
  • Ergonomist: Defacto
  • Kitchen Expert: Ecotral
  • Landscape: Bruno Kubler
  • Plumbing Engineer: Solares Bauen
  • Budget: 16 300 000 € H.T
  • Structure, Earthworks, Water Proofing Roofing, Elevator, Metal Works: SNRB
  • City: Colombes
  • Country: France
More SpecsLess Specs
Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - Facade, Windows
© Eugeni PONS

Text description provided by the architects. The ‘Simone Veil’ group of schools forms a structural element in the urban composition of the new eco-neighbourhood. It is tightly embedded in the dense urban fabric, opposite a park and straddling the maintenance workshops for the new tram line.   

Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - Facade
© Eugeni PONS
Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - Image 32 of 32
Diagram
Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - Image 21 of 32
© Eugeni PONS

The building is on three levels. The plot of land is small, and the roof areas are used to house the elementary school’s classrooms and educational gardens. The group also includes a sports hall, a canteen, a library, and out-of-school childcare facilities. The building is very thick; the hollows scooped out of the facades serve as facets, attracting the light and reflecting it back. Many of the traffic routes are lateralised, making them varied and bright. A number of patios irrigate the heart of the building, bringing natural light into its thickness. Internal transparencies add extra richness to traffic routes.

Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - Windows, Facade, Cityscape
© David Romero-Uzeda
Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - Image 30 of 32
Diagram
Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - Windows
© Eugeni PONS

On the town side, the building offers a rustic texture. Strips of untreated wood (with the bark left on) emphasise the corresponding roughness. The ground floor has the advantage of transparency through the covered courtyard, offering a glimpse of the multi-coloured playground, which is intended to be a very autonomous and artificial universe. The bright colours transform the space, expanding it to create a place for educational stimulation.

Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - Stairs
© Eugeni PONS
Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - Image 24 of 32
Plan 0
Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - Lighting
© Eugeni PONS

This project avoids all form of repetition. The light, the materials used, and the traffic routes create micro-events. These fragments come together in a joyful chaos.

Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes  / Dominique Coulon & associés - Facade
© Eugeni PONS

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Project location

Address:3 Rue Marguerite Yourcenar, 92700 Colombes, France

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Simone Veil’s group of schools in Colombes / Dominique Coulon & associés" 03 Aug 2016. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/792502/simone-veil-group-of-schools-in-colombes-dominique-coulon-and-associes> ISSN 0719-8884

© Eugeni PONS

位于白鸽城的“Simone Veil” 学校 / Dominique Coulon & associés

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