In Villeurbanne, France, the newly established Rosa Parks School Complex, designed by Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés, is poised to become a landmark within the Gratte-Ciel ZAC urban renewal area. This L-shaped architectural marvel acts as a crucial link between the evolving western developments and the established eastern urban environment. Its design thoughtfully integrates with the surrounding community, while also creating distinct internal courtyards and pathways.
The school's north-west corner serves as a pivotal entry point to the emerging district, skillfully bridging the scale of neighboring properties. The building's gradually ascending structure, moving from north to south, culminates in a slender profile at the corner and a series of terraced elevations facing the courtyard. This design not only echoes the verticality of the historic Gratte-Ciel towers but also optimizes sunlight exposure for the interior spaces. The exterior, a unified three-story volume, is enveloped in elegant white brick, extending upwards to enclose elevated playgrounds within a continuous architectural form. A terracotta mashrabiya system thoughtfully filters southern light, creating dynamic patterns of shadow and enhancing solar control, while the interplay of solid and void extends into the courtyard and a second-level playground canopy.
Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés' design team has meticulously crafted a cohesive identity for the school through careful material selection. A palette of varied white shades in matte and glazed brick, complemented by metal elements and aluminum joinery, captures and reflects light in subtle ways, ensuring a consistent aesthetic that evolves with the changing daylight. The integration of elevated educational gardens at the second and fourth levels introduces innovative outdoor learning environments within the vertical structure. The varied heights of the building create a network of staircases that not only define circulation but also offer diverse spatial experiences. This project, with its considered volumetric composition, material harmony, and inclusion of open-air spaces, sets a new standard for modern educational architecture in a transforming urban district, fostering an environment conducive to learning and growth.