Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Tank Architectes

Lycée Léonard de Vinci Technical College
2009 - 2019
Saint-Germain-en-laye, France

Designed in collaboration with COSA, the new Lycée Léonard de Vinci in Saint-Germain-en-Laye inscribes itself into the existing topography. Educational spaces and technical facilities, workshops and social outdoor spaces are arranged over three storeys, forming a simple stacked floor plan. The project draws on concepts for large industrial halls. Its clear geometric volume is composed of a 3.6-metre load-bearing skeleton divided into 1.2-metre units, creating a model for an educational facility that is fully transformable over time. The landscaped public realm is a significant part of the project. The building is embedded in the sloping site, creating level-specific relationships to the exterior. The first floor merges with the groundscape, while large patios articulate the façade and provide views towards the garden and the adjacent park. The U-shaped inner courtyard links the various workshop spaces, allowing a flowing transition throughout the entire site. These spatial sequences integrate the green spaces into school life and connect the building with the neighbouring street and the park.