The site of the Bonnenfant school group to be rehabilitated, in the heart of the historic town of Saint Germain en Laye, forces us to face history. We thus sought to register our project in the existing urban and heritage vocabulary: the variations of wooden storefronts on the ground floors, the coated walls protected by their cornices with fine zinc covers, the large vertical openings or the wooden shutters. We also wanted to reaffirm this Saint-German identity while reinterpreting it in a contemporary logic.

Due to its evolution, the plot is also made up of a collage of buildings dating from different eras and not interacting with each other. Rather than adding an additional layer of intervention, our proposal aims to unify the different architectural vocabularies present and to make additions that fit into an overall script. The whole linked by a large zinc awning around the schoolyards and used as a covered playground, an outdoor space in R + 1 for multi-reception. The project also plans to create a new building to house the nursery and elementary refectories. The layout of this building allows us to rediscover the configuration of the islets that had existed for decades; in 1903, the building separating the two islets was already the refectory: it was at the junction between the nursery school, the girls 'school and the boys' school. In our project, it is found according to the same logic at the meeting of multi-reception and nursery and elementary schools.

The interior of the island is a variation around clear coatings, exterior woodwork treated with dark gray natural oil, textile blinds with clear projection and zinc roofs. The large windows of the refectory and multi-reception dialogue with the facades of the elementary school, a historic and remarkable building. These large bays bathe the interior spaces with natural light. The view is wide open on the courtyard. The large bay windows offer the possibility of extending the maternal refectory in the courtyard on sunny days.

Access to elementary school is via « rue des Jouies » : on the ground floor, the glass front in dark gray oiled wood marks the entrance and is protected by a small canopy. Like the surrounding shops, the ground floor of the school group comes alive on the street during the week by serving the elementary school and the multi-reception center, located upstairs, on weekends or school holidays, by holding polling stations or other events in the multipurpose room. From the access, students will be able to leave their bikes in the airlock to directly access the covered area serving all classes under cover. Above the entrance, the windows on the street pierced in the plastered wall are inspired by similar typologies: they incorporate a railing in the bare exterior of the facade. These windows allow the little ones to see the animation of the street in all seasons. The multi-reception opens onto the courtyard on a high garden, overlooking the tree-lined courtyards of elementary school and kindergarten.

On rue Jouy Boudonville, the entrance to the nursery school is signaled by a large zinc canopy and a wooden base as for elementary school. This hollow entrance offers display spaces and a generous space sheltered from the rain and open to the hall.

GROUPE SCOLAIRE BONNENFANT, ST GERMAIN EN LAYE

The site of the Bonnenfant school group to be rehabilitated, in the heart of the historic town of Saint Germain en Laye, forces us to face history. We thus sought to register our project in the existing urban and heritage vocabulary : the variations of wooden storefronts facing the streets, the coated walls protected by their cornices with fine zinc covers, the large vertical openings or the wooden shutters. We also wanted to reaffirm this Saint-German identity while reinterpreting it in a contemporary logic.

Location : St Germain en Laye 
Commission : public competition
Client : City of St Germain en Laye 
Area : 
Value : 
Date : Delivery 2022
Assignment : S. Joly & P. E. Loiret, mandatory architectes. 
Team : Enertech (Fluids), BMF (Economy), Batiserf (Structure)
Project manager : Charles Henri Guetin