The renovation and extension project of the Henchoz middle school in Château-d'oex is part of a tenuous and heterogeneous village fabric. Implanted in continuity with the existing primary school, the volumetric balance of the extension is given by the concrete base on which a volume of wood rests.
The volume of wood forms the covered courtyard, the overhang that ends the playground and stages the panorama and the clearing towards the mountains.
The whole, a simple structural concept, forms a box that is resistant to wind stress and possible earthquakes. It meets the prefabrication techniques required for the construction of an economical project, which is easy to implement and can be completed quickly (12 months).
The existing plant filter is retained, forming a buffer zone between the courtyard and the main road. The wooden panels used for the interior cladding and the façade contribute to the warm atmosphere of the school, while responding to the village and mountainous character of the place.
The design and materiality of the project contribute to sustainable development.
This new learning space includes eight classrooms of about 80m2, six special rooms and various administrative and complementary premises.
