design competition to construct

a new secondary school in sion - competition

project owner:

state of valais

programme:

70 classrooms, 26 special rooms, 4 gyms, lecture theatre, canteen and school management.

dates:

competition may 2019

location

the project consists of two distinct areas with a continuous dialogue between them. although the island defined by the auditorium and the canteen is independent, it is still connected to the high school and gym building, both visually and in terms of programming.

the largest structure - the college and the gym - is located along the cour roger bonvin, as though reflecting this man-made construction. the smallest structure is located alongside the vissigen canal, which has been restored to its original splendour. the reduced height of the building allows this natural aspect to be accentuated.

the physical connection between these two structures is provided by a stone piazza which continues to the western entrance of the site, serving as an invitation to enter this educational environment.

access

the site can be entered in several different ways. from the cour roger bonvin, from the west coming from the city, or via the new bridge over the canal. this means that there is not just one access, but several. this is the reason why access to the auditorium from the city is intuitive, since it is immediately apparent. if you turn your head to the right, you will see the school. the entrances to the school are no less present, although they are more discreet from the Bonvin side.

the common feature of all these plans is that their entrances are relatively independent yet interconnected.

planning

the project also targets urban planning, as an extension to cour roger bonvin is planned to the south. this is why priority is given to pedestrians and, more generally, to soft mobility. the node created by the road and the courtyard then becomes a platform for interaction between students dropped off by bus and those using private transport. a whole new world of interaction is created.   

classification

the college and gym building have three openings. however, there are more openings onto on the piazza side as mentioned above. this is accentuated by the canopies and by the presence of double heights. the entrance hall of the school is a free, open, accessible space. the documentation centre, which is visible through the transparent façade, thus becomes the showcase of the school. on the ground floor, there is also the school office and the teachers' rooms. on the upper floors, there is a clear separation between the classrooms and the special rooms.

The entrance to the gym is separate from the college entrance, although there is a connection on the upper floors.

the interplay of transitions and with them, views, continues on the upper floors. sometimes this is emphasised by the inclusion of double-heights. these spaces serve both as vertical spaces for circulation and as places for relaxation, meetings and revision. the corridor connects these areas to each other.

naturally, the sports fields are located near the gyms between the cour roger bonvin and the 'ferme asile', surrounded by greenery and as close as possible to nature.

on the other side of the square stands a new, more compact structure, comprising the auditorium and the canteen.  as with the college and the gym, the entrances are both independent of each other, but the layouts remain connected. in fact, the canteen encircles the auditorium to form a single building.

the facades

the buildings' horizontal design is emphasised by the bands of windows. the metallic façade is made up of solar panels reflecting a bluish hue, thereby combining beauty and technology. on the ground floor, lightness and transparency are the key features.

internal ambiance

the entire structure is somewhat mineral, the structure is discreet, only those elements that are strictly necessary are included. the interior is constructed of wood. the resulting atmosphere is calm and mellow, making it environment that is conducive to learning.