joly & loiret completes asymmetric dance and music building for school in versailles

paris-based firm joly & loiret has completed an extension to a school in versailles, france. the new music conservatory containing new dance studios and rooms is spread across two floors and extend from the existing school building to settle on the playground’s sloping ground.

all images © schnepp renou

although the stretched form of the extension is contemporary in comparison to the existing school and surrounding architecture, joly & loiret chooses to clad the scheme in a pale façade of handmade bricks that makes it less conspicuous among the stone-colored environment. apartment building overlook the school grounds and face the steeply pitched and irregular roofscape finished in white tiles. this sculptural character influences the play in color and shadow as sunlight hits the roof.

the dance studios are located on the first floor, the wider openings overlook the playground while large skylights diffuse and highlight the asymmetric ceiling within. inside, the horizontal and vertical circulation offers generous reception area and space for events, gathering and relaxing between classes. the large windows allow the constant activity to be visualised from the outside. the circulation spaces is marked by the soft lighting that is tinted by the oiled oak and the clay-rendered walls; a contrast to the white practice rooms.

the hallways and circulation areas are finished in tinted oiled oak and clay-rendered walls

the ceiling displays a piece by artist marie maillard which evokes nature, the sun and movement of dance and music

the second floor features the dance studios, illuminated by glazed skylights

large windows overlook the playground

the windows the music room are set higher for the view to be less distracting

the white brick building extends from the school building

the form of the new build is different from the traditional apartment blocks but is finished in the same color

the building is accessed from the street by passing through a porte-cochere that opens onto a passageway

surrounding homes overlook the steeply pitched roofscape clad in white tiles

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