Dominique Coulon & Associés

Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools

Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda

RESTRUCTURING AND SAFETY WORKS OF SAINT-JEAN’S SCHOOLS

Dominique Coulon & Associés

HQE (HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY) CONSULTANT
François Liermann

MECHANICAL ELECTRICAL PLUMBING ENGINEER
Bet G.jost

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Batiserf

KITCHEN SPECIALIST
Ecotral

LANDSCAPE
Bruno Kubler

COST ESTIMATOR
E3 Economie

ARCHITECTS IN CHARGE
Dominique Coulon, Benjamin Rocchi, Architects Sarah Brebbia, Olivier Nicollas, Delphine George, Guillaume Wittmann

ACOUSTICS
Ingemansson France

PHOTOGRAPHS
David Romero-uzeda

COST
10 700 000 Euros

AREA
8731 M²

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Strasbourg, France

CATEGORY
Educational Architecture, Schools, Renovation

Text description provided by architect.

The aim of our project is to break with the monotony and repetitiveness that are characteristic of this highly rational 1960s building.

Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda

Working on the space in this way helps not only to clarify routes but also to work towards achieving energy performance targets.

The project requalifies the public forecourt, making it secure and dividing it into a number of sequences by means of a low boundary wall, a single ramp, and two sets of wide steps.

Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda

This arrangement directs the children towards two separate entrances, one for the nursery school, and one for the elementary school.

The ground-floor spaces, including the halls, have been rearranged as fluid, welcoming spaces with rounded, playful, dynamic shapes.

Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda

The curved shapes contrast with the regularity of the classrooms and lend emphasis to special moments in the days such as going to the library and letting off steam in the playroom.

These spatiotemporal landmarks enable the child to appreciate the rhythm of daily routine.

Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda

A number of scientific studies back up this theory, and we have drawn up our plans in collaboration with the neuroscientist Professor Claude Bonnet.

The playgrounds have been redesigned following the same logic as for the halls.

Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda

The planting system, the acoustic treatment of the walls, and the different materials all help to break up the monotonous, of the existing playground.

The existing building was on three identical levels, with one central corridor serving classrooms on either side.

Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda

The space occupied by the nursery school is on the first floor, while the second and third floors are devoted to the elementary school.

We have broken up the traffic areas by bringing in light in different ways, providing visual landmarks and a considerable degree of comfort.

Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda

The facades have been completely covered over and insulated on the outside.

Since the diagnosis revealed a number of horizontal cracks, we reconsidered the heights of the windowsills and aligned them with the tables in the different sections.

To deal with the current problem of overheating, vertical slats have been fitted on the outside to provide protection from sunlight falling obliquely. 

Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda

Each classroom is fitted with roller blinds and double-flow ventilation. We have even managed to achieve an energy figure lower than that requested.

The terraced roofs are of different types. The sports hall has not been touched, since work was carried out on it recently.

Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda

The roof of the classroom building has been planted, and photovoltaic panels fitted on the three new light wells. The leitmotiv of the project is spatial diversity.

Each space takes on a strong identity to create the landmarks that are essential in such an imposing building. We have added a touch of gentleness and poetry so that both pupils and staff will be able to thrive in a calm environment. These spaces constitute an innovative educational tool.

Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda


Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
© David Romero-Uzeda


Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
Site Plan
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
Ground Floor Plan
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
First Floor Plan
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
Third Floor Plan


Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
Diagram 1
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
Diagram 2
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
Diagram 3
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
Diagram 4
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
Diagram 5
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
Diagram 6
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
Diagram 7
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
Diagram 8


Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
Section-elevation 1
Restructuring And Safety Works Of Saint-Jean’s Schools
Section-elevation 2

Dominique Coulon & Associés
T +33 3 88321761
Dominique Coulon & Associés
13 Rue de la Tour des Pecheurs, 67000 Strasbourg, France