STUDENT REFECTORY SARTROUVILLE
The restructuring and extension of the school refectory was the opportunity to expand its capacities to face the increase of the boarders, while offering a qualitative catering space in connection with the school, its courtyard and environment.
Located in an islet made up of a row of buildings - themselves comprising extensions and fenced outdoor spaces – the project involves working on thresholds, boundaries and indoor-outdoor routes as a design fertilizer. The extension leans against an imposing building with a rational architecture housing the classrooms and developing generous openings favourably facing south.
In order to underline its belonging to the school while enhancing its architecture, the volume of the extension is defined by a double wall parallel to the existing facade, which gives a new thickness to the refectory settled on the ground floor. This wall, made of self-insulating bricks lined with terracotta cladding, creates a simple, economical and high-performance envelope. The materiality of the terracotta bricks with sharp joints asserts the presence of the extension while fitting harmoniously into the residential and traditional architecture of Sartrouville. The extension is thus a punctual addition to the existing building, particularly through the green roof, directly visible from the upper floors of the school. The added volume takes advantage of wide lateral openings towards the courtyard to the east and a wooded area to the west, while framing punctual and calibrated views towards the sports ground.
The refectory is elongated into the extension to take advantage of the natural light, a reorganisation that allowed the complete restructuring of the office and the integration of a self-service area.
In a context where the relationship between the refectory and the school playground appeared very weak, the extension now makes it possible to re-establish both a functional link and an asserted architectural dialectic.
