Extension and restructuring of Collège Henri IV in Vaujours

A building in harmony with its territory

Embracing the urban and landscape context, the college’s original architecture blends its form into its surroundings. Responding to the site’s constraints, the building takes the shape of a compact front aligned along the street on the south-west side, while on the north side it adopts a typology of three window-like volumes opening onto the forest. Rising three storeys, it asserts itself through a coherent sense of scale and a strong connection to the landscape.

Formally, the building is organized into three U-shaped volumes. These unfold in sequence along the triangular plot. Functionally, each of these three “open windows” creates a sheltered setting for students’ recreational breaks, as well as a landscape breathing space through their orientation toward the Poudrerie forest park.

The challenges of expansion

Taking advantage of the need to increase Collège Henri IV’s capacity, the restructuring project follows a high environmental quality approach. The more than 30% increase in student numbers is addressed through the functional repurposing of the underfloor void beneath the Sciences building.

This building, located between the Arts and Humanities buildings, benefits from a regrading of the courtyards. The excavation work allows for a wider range of uses for the outdoor spaces. A future courtyard dedicated to sports and a future ground-level space for outdoor drawing classes, level with the drawing classroom, enhance campus life.

The new façades revealed by the redevelopment of the underfloor void are finished in limestone from the surrounding quarries. The white material pays tribute to the heritage of the territory.