A School at the Heart of the Landscape: École Hélène Carrère d’Encausse

Located at one of the main entrances to the city, the new school complex marks the renewal of Marly. The merging of the Nelson Mandela and Louise Michel schools represents a strong political gesture — embodied through an educational facility that is both unifying and symbolic.

The adjacent plot, once a disused industrial site, has been transformed into a public park for residents, creating a green lung directly connected to the school’s playgrounds. This landscape foundation lies at the heart of the project’s concept: a school turned toward nature, nestled among the trees.

During the design phase, it became clear that the rehabilitation of the historic Dupont House would be disproportionately costly compared to its potential. The new building’s layout, therefore, was conceived to express clarity, openness, and dialogue with its surroundings.

Architecture in Dialogue with the Site

The architectural composition unfolds in two wings that extend and meet toward the heart of the park — one reaching from the east, the other from the west — just as the students of the future school will converge each day. Their junction divides the southern section of the park into two distinct playgrounds, corresponding to the two schools.

These playgrounds, oriented east and west, open generously onto the park and its tall trees, while being sheltered from prevailing winds. Through both its morphological design and the pathway that crosses the park, the project establishes physical and symbolic links across the city — expressing a vision of unity, gathering, and joyful diversity.

An Architecture Between City and Nature

The building stands as a bridge between urban and natural landscapes. It engages with the city through its public façades and entrance forecourt, while creating a protective, inward-facing world for the children. The architectural language develops as a play of curves and counter-curves, weaving together the different programmatic elements and outdoor spaces into a harmonious whole.

The school complex is organized over two levels:

• A brick base, which anchors the building in its urban context and defines the alignment with the planted promenade. Its softened corners and curved inflections create a gentle dialogue with the surrounding landscape.

• A timber upper level, lighter and more natural in expression, fostering a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

A curved recess marks the main entrance forecourt, enhanced by planted beds that provide both shade and softness. The entrances to each of the two schools are signaled by subtle indentations in the façade, ensuring clarity of access while maintaining the building’s cohesive form.