‘Moulon’ group of schools in Gif-sur-Yvette
Eugneni Pons
Product Spec Sheet

ElementBrandProduct Name
MetalworksAlkimia
Finishing stageArt Maniac
Core and shell and mechanical plumbing Colas
Outdoor arrangements and green spacesEurovia
Interior wood joineryLa franternelle
KitchenLe Cloarec

Product Spec Sheet
Metalworks
by Alkimia
Finishing stage
Core and shell and mechanical plumbing
by Colas
Outdoor arrangements and green spaces
by Eurovia
Interior wood joinery
Kitchen

Moulon group of schools at Gif-sur-Yvette, Saclay plateau

Dominique Coulon & associés as Architects

Working on the master plan drawn up by the agency XDGA and landscape designer Michel Desvignes in this dynamic of urban renewal with a strong identity provided an opportunity for an extremely stimulating experience for us.

photo_credit Eugneni Pons
Eugneni Pons

The project is totally in line with the plan for building proportions proposed by the town's planners. The group of schools is generously porous to the west, while the buildings on the other three sides create a protective envelope around the playgrounds. The different entrances (nursery school, primary school, leisure area) are all positioned on Moulon's pedestrian route and, as a result, the group of schools establishes a close relationship with the public space. 

photo_credit Eugneni Pons
Eugneni Pons

The neighbourhood in which the group of schools is located comprises very light-coloured buildings - mainly white and pale grey - in a four-square design. Our project affirms its status as a public facility by conspicuously placing it in direct contrast to this context, by its use of colour. The facades on the edge of the plot offer a pixelated gradation of colour of the bricks that ranges from white through to black, contrasting not only with their surroundings but also with the heart of the building. This in turn is highly coloured, in blue and sharp orange, given extra personality by a definite play of diagonals: for both the floor plan and the cross section of the building and for both the exterior and the interior, we have made every effort to get away from an orthonormal system. 

photo_credit Eugneni Pons
Eugneni Pons

Then nursery school and its playground, the out-of-school reception area, the canteen and the sports hall are all on the ground floor. The primary school spreads over the remaining two floors. Its playground is on the roof, giving the children in the two schools places that are clearly differentiated.

photo_credit Eugneni Pons
Eugneni Pons

In this way we provide the various components of the group of schools with their own separate identity, creating specific places and contrasts that constitute markers for the children. This makes the facility, despite its imposing appearance, appear smaller, on the scale of its young users, and so much more convivial.

photo_credit Eugneni Pons
Eugneni Pons

Read story in FrançaisDeutschPortuguêsEspañol and Italiano

Project Spotlight
Product Spotlight
News
Nokha Village Community Centre by Sanjay Puri Architects is an architectural oasis in the desert
18 Mar 2024 News
Nokha Village Community Centre by Sanjay Puri Architects is an architectural oasis in the desert

Mumbai-based Sanjay Puri Architects has completed the Nokha Village Community Centre, an architectur... More

Square and Tourist Office: Emerging finalist in Mies van der Rohe Awards 2024
15 Mar 2024 News
Square and Tourist Office: Emerging finalist in Mies van der Rohe Awards 2024

In this Archello series, we look at each of the seven nominated projects (five architecture finalist... More

25 best mosaic wall tile manufacturers
15 Mar 2024 Specification
25 best mosaic wall tile manufacturers

Mosaic wall tiles are produced in an enormous range of colors, shapes and finishes, and from a varie... More

Introducing Partner Motion Facades
15 Mar 2024 Partner News
Introducing Partner Motion Facades

Motion Facades specializes in supplying advanced facade systems for luxury real estate projects. Its... More

Bergendy Cooke, Grégoire Du Pasquier, Ruth Baleiko and Mathew Albores join Archello Awards 2024 jury panel
15 Mar 2024 Archello Awards
Bergendy Cooke, Grégoire Du Pasquier, Ruth Baleiko and Mathew Albores join Archello Awards 2024 jury panel

Architects Bergendy Cooke, Grégoire Du Pasquier, Ruth Baleiko and Mathew Albores have been an... More

JSWD completes new office complex in Bonn unified by triangular facade elements
14 Mar 2024 News
JSWD completes new office complex in Bonn unified by triangular facade elements

International architectural firm JSWD has completed the Neuer Kanzlerplatz office complex in the cit... More

Archello Awards 2024 expands with 'Firm Awards'
14 Mar 2024 Archello Awards
Archello Awards 2024 expands with 'Firm Awards'

Today Archello introduces a new set of Firm Awards categories to widen the scope of the Archello Awa... More

Studio Egret West develops plans for new Passivhaus homes
13 Mar 2024 News
Studio Egret West develops plans for new Passivhaus homes

London-based multidisciplinary architecture and design practice Studio Egret West has developed plan... More