Mareil Marly School

The Les Violettes school complex is a village within the village of Mareil-Marly. Located on the hills above the town, the site is bordered by numerous remarkable trees and enjoys an unobstructed view to the west of the Paris metropolitan area, where the towers of La Défense rise into view. The existing buildings, which vary in architectural style and era, are surrounded by trees and vegetation and offer an exceptional setting for the children. HEMAA has designed a garden school that preserves and enhances the qualities of this natural environment. The building’s materials—wood and glass—mirror the tree canopy, while the spatial layout features transparency between the building sections and an openness toward the sky. To create as much space as possible for playgrounds sheltered from prevailing winds, the two new buildings are located at the western corner of the site. The two new structures and the existing elementary school building are connected by two light-filled passages that house double-height, open-air atria: the first, at the junction with the existing building, serves as the elementary school atrium; the second, connecting the hall to the preschool courtyard, brings abundant natural light into the inner street. The preschool is located entirely on the ground floor, and all classrooms have level access to the courtyard—a request from the teaching staff. In both the old and new courtyards, the areas of bare soil around the existing trees have been expanded. Rainwater is redirected toward these areas, which are slightly sunken, to promote natural infiltration. The choice of a lightweight, prefabricated French timber structure helped minimize the impact (noise, duration) of construction work on the site, which remained occupied by the school community throughout the project. The building’s segmented character is emphasized by the different façade treatments used on the ground floor and the upper floor. The first level, a visual landmark for the children, forms a base that opens widely onto the playgrounds. It is clad in factory-treated vertical wooden slats. This French Douglas fir siding is pre-grayed through impregnation to lock in and preserve its appearance over time. The upper level is enveloped in a reflective cladding composed of mirrored aluminum panels alternating with large windows. The façade thus reflects the tree canopy, the sky, and, in the distance, the expansive landscape. The building’s appearance and colors thus change with the seasons and the weather. The roofs, with their gentle, sweeping curves, seem to float in the sky above the courtyards. Inside, raw materials have been emphasized. The timber framework is visible throughout, and the precast concrete walls in the halls—which brace the structure—are left exposed without any finish. Acoustics are provided by natural-colored compacted wood fiber installed between the structural beams. Insulation consists of wood wool. The utility systems are exposed and neatly laid out. The building’s compact design, which prioritizes the courtyards, led to the installation of central circulation corridors with rooms on both sides. To provide natural light to these spaces, windows are positioned in the partitions between the rooms and the circulation areas. The ends of these circulation spaces are also glazed so that the eye is drawn to the outdoors and the greenery from every vantage point.