Expansion of the Frida Kahlo Middle School

The project to expand the existing middle school stems from a growing need for teaching spaces, particularly for the Specialized General and Vocational Education Section (SEGPA). This section is designed for students with significant academic difficulties. A plot of land to the west of the recent construction, on the edge of a wooded area, is designated to accommodate the project. Drawing on a domestic and functional architectural style, the project draws its strength from local references. The building’s form is inspired by vernacular village layouts: those with clustered structures and a variety of roof styles. The generous volumes are put to good use in the workshop spaces and invite users to discover a new way of learning through hands-on practice. In keeping with a commitment to promoting traditional crafts, the structure is built entirely of French wood. The cladding on the common areas consists of 3-ply Douglas fir panels. The tall sections are clad in wood slats treated with a black saturator. A rainwater harvesting system is designed to supply water to the irrigation system for the greenhouse and the outdoor application area. Natural lighting in all spaces helps optimize energy consumption. Together, these choices enable the project to achieve an E3C1-equivalent rating. On the one hand, the west wing serves as a showcase for the production and expertise of the Section for General and Adapted Vocational Education (SEGPA) and helps to better integrate its students into the middle school. Connected to the existing middle school by a covered walkway (forum and lobby), it is traversed by a single circulation route connecting the Rural Space and Environment (ERE) center—which opens to the south onto vegetable plots and an orchard—and the Food Hygiene and Services (HAS) center, featuring a kitchen and areas for sewing and ironing. Furthermore, the eastern extension is carefully aligned with the facades and design guidelines of the existing middle school, thereby completing the architectural layout.