Project Co-designing an architectural project in a secondary school
Context Master's project
Project studio Short project C’est la pause, Ensa Nantes
Partners Maureen Pochard + Florian Durand
Teachers Bruno Plisson + Petra Marguc
Place Nantes (44)
Date 2022
For one week, we participated in the short project C’est la pause as part of the Divers(c)ités programme at Jean Perrin High School in Rezé. The co-design project relied on first-year high school students and the expertise of the school's metalworking and fashion workshops. This project was the catalyst for my mediation practice, as well as for other interventions, notably the Divers(c)ités workshops.
Based on a brief assessment of the spaces dedicated to secondary school pupils, the project focused on creating a new semi-enclosed covered space that would open up leisure areas onto the courtyard, which is neglected in winter. Ultimately, the Quartier des lycéens would provide an interface between the school and the neighbourhood, enabling it to be open throughout the week. This transformation will be carried out in three stages.
The first deadline, during the week of intervention, will allow us to make an inventory of what is already there and to convey the impetus for change in the space. Based on the materials available on site, we decided to go beyond the simple design of the space and we sketched out the beginnings of a co-construction project based on reuse. This is where the Cabane des lycéens. Designed and built in a short period of time, the hut is the first step in the High School Neighbourhood project. The space has been fitted out by repurposing bicycle racks and available wood. The addition of brightly coloured fabric helps to divide the space and make it visible from the school.
The second intervention would take place over a period of around one year, involving the conversion of the hut into a shelter. The space would then be made permanent by reinforcing the structure and adding walls. This intermediate stage would allow the uses to be confirmed at little cost in parallel with the final deadline.
The final, more substantial phase would be the design and implementation of the Quartier des lycéens. This space would represent both a spatial transformation of the school with the opening of a new student centre to complement the existing one, and a profound change in educational policy with the school opening its doors to the local community throughout the week.