Camille Claudel School, a place open to the community

At the heart of Bondy, the new Camille Claudel school complex, designed by Gaëtan Le Penhuel & Associés represents a bold project aimed at providing the appropriate spaces for an evolving educational model. Strategically located between residential areas and large housing estates, the complex sits between the new auditorium and the middle school, creating a new focal point for the town.

Covering an area of 6,255 m² and with 29 classes, the project is designed to meet the educational and social needs of children aged 2 to 11, as well as to serve as a shared space for the local community.

A school for children and a place for the community

The architecture stands out for its understated and timeless aesthetic, with volumes in light-coloured brick and rounded corners that echo the elegant arches of the adjacent auditorium.

The complex consists of two main buildings: the nursery school to the east and the primary school to the west, connected on the ground floor by a large common area that includes entrances, foyers, and a public library. This mediating function between the large green square and the community is represented in the façade design, where the main entrance recedes and dissolves with a transparent glass wall, inviting citizens to enter and make use of the spaces.

Every element of the project is designed not only to serve its young students but also for the benefit of the local community. For instance, the sports ground is directly connected to the playground and public pathway, allows teenagers to engage in sports activities after school. Shared spaces, such as the multipurpose hall and the school cafeteria, are also accessible outside school hours for evening gymnastic classes or culinary events open to the residents.

The playground, in continuity to the street, has been designed as an urban oasis and a potential square for residents. This open meeting space for the neighbourhood features individual and group play areas, a plant-filled amphitheatre, and a shaded terrace for picnics.

Design supporting the educational journey

The concept of flexibility extends to the interior spaces, with a design that supports the children’s educational development. The nursery school is organized into four distinct “villages,” each characterized by a different atmosphere and colour scheme to signify the progressive transition between classes. These modules are arranged around colourful “central squares” with continuous benches and large circular windows.

The primary school, on the other hand, is developed around a shared street that serves as a wide interior street, with classrooms facing onto it. This area has been transformed into an “active strip”; enhanced with benches and spaces for informal activities, the corridors thus become learning spaces that complement the classrooms, promoting social interaction and a flexible teaching approach.

The Camille Claudel school complex project is the result of ongoing dialogue between the architects and users throughout the planning stages. The challenge is to create a space where every student can feel both free and protected, supporting an educational model that is constantly evolving.

Essential to achieving this goal is the town of Bondy’s commitment to regularly monitor the use of spaces to adapt them, when necessary, to the needs of students and the residents.

The complex aims to serve as an example of sustainable and inclusive architecture, capable of adapting to the community’s needs and contributing to Bondy’s social and cultural development. The Camille Claudel is not just a school but a true hub for social interaction and innovation, designed for the present and future of the city.

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