‘josephine baker school’ by dominique coulon & associés, la courneuve, france image © eugeni pons photography

 

 

 

strasbourg based-practice dominique coulon & associés has created ‘josephine baker’ a group of schools in la courneuve, france. occupying a trapezoid-shaped plot of land, the scheme looks to reorganize the site while referencing and corresponding to a pair of housing blocks that once stood in its place.

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve front image © eugeni pons photography

 

 

 

linked by a system of ramps and stairways, the interconnected volumes produce an organic and integrated organization that separates the primary and nursery classrooms. strategically deployed around the triangular site, the school features a collection of buildings that accommodate elevated sports areas, merging playgrounds and interstitial gardens.

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve side images © eugeni pons photography

 

 

 

bold and cantilevered volumes fold and slide around the site, creating an enclosed and protected form. a series of voids, indentations and changes in color break up the vertically dominant facade which reacts to the intersecting axis and historical landmarks that surround the school. inside, winding passageways and large thresholds participate in a subtle two fold movement of advance and retreat, meant to gently separate the child from both its parents and the nearby playgrounds.

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve side image © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve approach images © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve various structures come together to form the school yard image © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve school yard image © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve sheltered area image © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve bright orange contrasts the dominant white forms, bouncing sunshine around the school yard image © olivier nicollas photographe

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve outdoor space image © olivier nicollas photographe

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve play areas (left) image © nicolas foucher photography (right) image © olivier nicollas photographe

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve rooftop soccer field image © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve ramp and bridges leading to sports areas image © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve rooftop sports areas image © olivier nicollas photographe

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve classroom image © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve classroom image © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve upper corridor image © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve stairway images © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve main hallway image © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve entrance to classrooms image © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve corridor image © delphine george photographe

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve side image © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve image © eugeni pons photography

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve floor plan / level 0 image courtesy of dominique coulon & associés

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve

floor plan / level 1 image courtesy of dominique coulon & associés

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve roof plan image courtesy of dominique coulon & associés

dominique coulon & associés: josephine baker school in la courneuve diagram image courtesy of dominique coulon & associés