Collège de Béthusy

The original buildings of the Béthusy school complex and their landscaped surroundings are of remarkable quality. The new building volume continues this ensemble by positioning itself along the east–west axis, intended to become the programmatic backbone for the site’s collective functions.

Located in alignment with gymnasiums 2 and 3, it adopts the existing courtyard system to form a series that establishes a new, coherent entity. Its façades define two tree-planted pockets, bringing additional clarity to the site’s overall spatial logic.
The interplay of solids and voids engages with the landscape elements, allowing all the trees listed on the tree heritage plan to be preserved. Particular attention is given to retaining the large chestnut tree and the group of major trees situated between building D and the gymnasiums. Concentrating the functions within a single building minimizes the impact on the site and preserves land reserves for future developments. This compactness provides an efficient form factor in terms of sustainability, ensures the preservation of permeable ground, and reduces construction disturbances by concentrating them in a single location.

Access to the new functions is provided through an arcade linking the two entrances. It forms a transitional and gathering space where children, parents, and teachers can meet, reinforcing the school’s role as a place of life and exchange. Directly accessible, the multi-purpose after-school facility is organized over two levels. The spaces are designed with particular attention to versatility, flexibility, and reversibility. The entrance on the north side becomes the main access point to all the sports halls in the northern part of the site. It also provides access to the library and the dean’s office. This entrance is complemented by the refreshment area, arranged as a double-height space that acts as a pivot between the entrance courtyard and the sports halls. This spatial organization establishes a new distribution axis that coherently links all spaces dedicated to sports activities, facilitating orientation across the site—an advantage that a dispersed layout would not provide. The new stacked gymnasiums benefit from independent natural lighting. The western part houses equipment storage and changing rooms, with direct access to the outdoor sports fields. The school library is located on the top floor. This emblematic position, overlooking the southern part of the site, makes it visible from the surroundings and from the other buildings of the complex. It is designed as a space free from structural constraints, offering complete flexibility in its layout. The dean’s office is placed in a quiet area, isolated from the flows associated with the other programs.

The façade expression is based on a structural grid optimized for timber spans and the integration of reused slabs. This neutral grid in bleached wood establishes a language that harmoniously dialogues with the site’s buildings and landscape elements. On the south side, large openings face the tree-covered areas, creating a direct relationship with nature and encouraging environmental awareness.