The Parallel Study Mandate (MEP) focuses on the expansion of the Vallée de Joux Primary and Secondary School. The project represents an approach rooted in continuity and a renewal of the campus, creating a vital link between the existing buildings. It unifies school, sports, and public spaces into a coherent and welcoming whole. The building is designed to integrate seamlessly with the landscape and to champion sports and sustainability in school life.
The site is located at the heart of the Vallée de Joux Campus, situated between several key hubs: the Technical School, the existing school, Rue des Écoles, and the Health Center. This strategic position allows for the efficient connection of school-related traffic. The project, a true pivot point for the site, adapts to the topography and forges a link between the different buildings, with sports as a guiding theme. Two main axes structure the layout: a longitudinal axis connecting the Technical School, the existing school, and the extension, and a transverse axis linking the public esplanade, the sports program, and the Health Center.
Organization of Spaces and Extensions
The project adopts a holistic approach to education, where physical and social development are as essential as academic learning. Consequently, sports are at the heart of the project, structuring the campus organization. The ground floor houses public activities, accessible via a distinct, covered entrance. The triple gymnasium, semi-underground and centrally located, allows other spaces to be organized around it while providing natural light and exterior views for all rooms. The school spaces, connected to the existing building, are distributed over two levels above the gym, arranged around an open patio. An upper courtyard, located at the school's center, serves as a space for recreation and community.
Site plan
Connection and Circulation
The link between the various programs (academic and sports) is embodied by a "sports promenade" that guides users from the public esplanade to the upper level, solidifying the connection between the Technical School and the future Health Center. Traffic flows are separated to optimize space management: school access is via the existing courtyard or the new upper courtyard, public access is through the foyer connected to the esplanade, and athletes have a separate entrance for major events. Each zone is designed for autonomous use, offering great flexibility.
Interior/Exterior Relationship
The project fosters a strong connection between interior and exterior by leveraging the site's natural topography. The sports promenade highlights the link between the different programs through a path open to the outdoors. The upper courtyard is formed by the embankment penetrating the built volume. On the ground floor, the orientation of the foyer, the bleachers, and the facade openings allows neighborhood residents to be fully integrated into the project.
Longitudinal section, East facade
Ground floor plan, First-floor plan, Second-floor plan
A Feat of Structural Gymnastics
The decision to place the classrooms above the gymnasium stemmed from programmatic requirements and available volumes. The long-span beams of the gym must support the weight of two floors of classrooms—a structural challenge met thanks to the lightness of the timber construction.
Project Materiality
The chosen materials aim for integration with the natural context of the Vaud Jura while meeting functional and climatic requirements. A concrete base anchors the building to the ground, while the lightweight and durable timber crown harmonizes with the surrounding forest environment. Glazed facades reinforce the relationship with the outdoors and offer views of nature.
Sustainable Development
The project emphasizes sustainability by optimizing volumes and surface areas to reduce its environmental impact. The semi-underground gym minimizes excavation and underpinning, thanks to the site's topography. The timber structure of the classrooms and the wooden truss beams of the triple gym reduce material consumption, while the hybrid wood-precast concrete structure lowers costs and optimizes construction time. The building's compact form limits the extent of the outer envelope, while high-performance thermal facades and optimized glazed surfaces ensure maximum natural light and low energy consumption. Natural ventilation and sunshade systems guarantee optimal thermal comfort in both summer and winter, with efficient indoor air management. The green roof, equipped with photovoltaic panels, produces solar energy, promotes biodiversity, and retains rainwater. Recyclable materials and permeable surfaces support a circular economy and reduce the ecological footprint.
