Fragmented vision. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle
04/08/2022.
[Cranves-Sales] France
metalocus, ADELA BONAS
metalocus, ADELA BONAS
French architecture practice led by Christophe Rousselle was commissioned to design the Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales after winning an architecture competition. The project is located in Ville de Cranves-Sales, France, although given the urban structure of the area, it could actually be understood as a neighbourhood of the Swiss city of Geneva.
The proposal of this project is to maximize the use of the double slope of the land through the construction of "two schools" developed on two different terraces, both from a vantage point over their surroundings.
The proposal of this project is to maximize the use of the double slope of the land through the construction of "two schools" developed on two different terraces, both from a vantage point over their surroundings.
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Bacchetti.
Site plan. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
-1 Floor plan. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Ground floor plan. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
+1 floor plan. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Roof plan. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Axonometry. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Section. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Section. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Section. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Section. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Section. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Section. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Section. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Section. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Elevation. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Elevation. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Elevation. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Elevation. Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle.
Christophe Rousselle designed the complex by paying attention to the best possible way to adapt to the context in which it is inserted. The design is a group of fragmented volumes giving answers to the program, allowing a more adequate scale for the different uses and minimizing the misleading notion of a huge “UFO” type facility.
Rousselle located the access to the south, delimited by a deck that overlooks the courtyard and serves as access to the primary school, extracurricular classes and the large multipurpose room, thus offering greater flexibility in the use of the facilities.
The project incorporates sloping roofs that connect with the vegetation and thus ensure the perfect closure of this fifth façade and its integration into the local architectural heritage.
Rousselle located the access to the south, delimited by a deck that overlooks the courtyard and serves as access to the primary school, extracurricular classes and the large multipurpose room, thus offering greater flexibility in the use of the facilities.
The project incorporates sloping roofs that connect with the vegetation and thus ensure the perfect closure of this fifth façade and its integration into the local architectural heritage.
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura.
Groupe Scolaire Cranves-Sales by Christophe Rousselle. Photograph by Takuji Shimmura.
Project description by Christophe Rousselle
The proposal of this project in Ville de Cranves-Sales, France, is to maximize the use of the double slope of the land by building "two schools" developed on two different terraces, both in a vantage point over their surroundings.
The access, located in the south, is delimited by a roof that overlooks the courtyard and serves as access to the primary school, extracurricular classes and the large multipurpose room, thus offering greater flexibility in the use of equipment.
In the search to adapt in the best possible way to the context, the project proposes fragmented volumes according to each program, thus allowing a more adequate scale for the different uses and minimizing the misleading notion of a huge “UFO” type project, which would be more related to an urban school, in a denser environment.
Visible from the highest point of the building, the project incorporates sloping roofs that connect with the vegetation and thus ensure the perfect closure of this fifth façade and its integration into the local architectural heritage.
User safety is one of the reasons why it was decided to locate the school on two different levels: so that each classroom can interact with the outside, thus creating more direct and user-friendly routes. Also, unlike the first level, the slope of the land required the creation of a lower level, so as not to become a large embankment. The proposed landscape is that of a fragment of local forest and juxtaposed volumes of stone.
The local species are of rapid development, offering in just 7 years the immutable record of a landscape that is unified with the location of the building in total balance, considering the volume of vegetation in relation to the volume of the building.
According to this logic, the two courtyards are flat land and allow for ample play and landscaping spaces next to the facilities, the school is a central point in the landscape surrounded by the surrounding mountain ranges.
The materiality of the school seeks to promote durability over time and the highly varied interior is enhanced with the use of vibrant colors and at the same time reinforces the feeling of warmth with the use of wood in all common areas and on the floor.
More information
Architects
Christophe Rousselle architecte. Architect.- Christophe Rousselle.
Collaborators
Jean-Philippe Marre (project manager). Flavien Faussurier (site). TPFI (design office). BEGC (kitchen designer). Verdance (landscape designer).
Client
Commune de Cranves Sales.
Area
Plot area.- 28,561 m².
GFA.-2,645 m².
GFA.-2,645 m².
Dates
Project start year.- 2015.
Project completion year.- 2017.
Project completion year.- 2017.
Location
Rue du college, Cranves-Sales, France.
Budget
€5.3 M.
Photography
Christophe Rousselle
Christophe Rousselle. The studio of architect urbanist Christophe Rousselle was founded in 2004 and develops projects mainly in France, Asia and Latin America. Recognized for its signature conceptual work, Christophe Rousselle designs projects based on experimentation with the notion of “open volume,” proposing a singular image each for project.
Prize winner of the Nouveaux Albums des Jeunes Architectes in 2006, Christophe Rousselle is also known for being regularly invited to work on the themes of densification and height in France and abroad. Each project undertaken by the firm meet rigorous requirements with regard to environmental quality and integrates thinking from diverse thematic fields such as spatial planning, design and even sociology. A specific approach that clearly posits the notion of sustainable development as a driver of creativity for the architectural heritage of tomorrow.
Prize winner of the Nouveaux Albums des Jeunes Architectes in 2006, Christophe Rousselle is also known for being regularly invited to work on the themes of densification and height in France and abroad. Each project undertaken by the firm meet rigorous requirements with regard to environmental quality and integrates thinking from diverse thematic fields such as spatial planning, design and even sociology. A specific approach that clearly posits the notion of sustainable development as a driver of creativity for the architectural heritage of tomorrow.
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