Designed in close harmony with its surroundings, this new facility embodies an architectural approach that is both understated and landscape-oriented. Conceived by the HEMAA firm, it combines load-bearing rammed earth construction, a timber structure, and landscaped outdoor areas to create a learning environment that opens onto the natural world.

The Évry-Courcouronnes (91) children’s and sports facility project is structured around a careful reading of the site and its natural topography. Nestled into the slope with minimal site disturbance, the architectural complex seeks to preserve the existing landscape while limiting soil sealing. This approach allows the project to blend naturally into the adjacent park, avoiding any jarring break with the terrain. Designed by the HEMAA firm, the program comprises five distinct entities: a nursery school, an elementary school, a childcare support center, a dining facility, and a sports grandstand. These various volumes are arranged around a central garden courtyard—a space shielded from street-level views yet wide open to the surrounding panorama. The site layout prioritizes visual continuity and pedestrian-friendly circulation. Slender glazed walkways connect the different buildings, fostering through-views and maximizing natural light. This deliberate "fragmentation" of the building volumes also reduces the project's visual impact and maintains a scale appropriate for school use. Outdoors, the landscaping extends this integration strategy. Pedestrian paths wind through new plantings, linking the site’s various functions to the park. Conceived as a "tamed forest," the children's garden features oaks, ashes, maples, and elms surrounding open areas dedicated to play and outdoor activities. Drawing inspiration from the *Waldkindergarten*—an educational approach centered on learning in a natural setting—the project places the relationship with the landscape and the natural world at the heart of the children's daily experience.

Material Mix

The choice of materials also reflects the project's commitment to grounding itself in the local area and environment. The architectural design relies on a combination of load-bearing rammed-earth facades and a timber structure. Used as a structural material, rammed earth (paired with hemp, flax, and cotton insulation) provides high thermal inertia while minimizing the buildings' carbon footprint. In total, 665 m³ of earth—sourced from excavation spoil from the Grand Paris Express metro tunnels—was used for the exterior walls. Its mineral appearance and natural hue allow for a discreet integration into the park setting while echoing the site's geological characteristics. Inside, timber forms the primary framework for the school and after-school facilities, featuring a glulam spruce structure with beams spaced two meters apart. At the core of the volumes, these beams rest on CLT panels, providing lateral bracing along the circulation areas. At the facades, the beams are integrated into the rammed-earth walls, resting on lime-mortar pockets formed within the earthen elements. Along the glazed sections, the spans are supported by timber columns positioned inside the building, aligned with the window frames. The assembly is completed by a continuous perimeter edge beam, anchored to the rammed earth via mounting plates that allow for thermal expansion while resisting torsional forces. This system stiffens the structure and stabilizes the earth walls, ensuring that the beams embedded within the rammed earth are subjected only to compression. The use of wood serves several purposes here: reducing environmental impact, enabling partial off-site prefabrication of structural elements, and enhancing comfort for the children. Its inclusion is also driven by functional considerations; left intentionally exposed in interior spaces, the wood helps create a warm atmosphere suited to educational activities. Combined with natural light admitted through openings and glazed walkways, it contributes to the quality of life envisioned by the designers. Finally, the interplay between wood and rammed earth serves as an architectural reflection of the Parc des Loges landscape, to which the project directly alludes. Above the buildings, vaulted green roofs (featuring 15–20 cm of growing medium) enhance thermal comfort and natural water management, while adjustable sunshades and deep roof overhangs regulate solar gain. At the base, textured low-carbon concrete—punctuated by glazed sections starting at a height of 60 cm—provides durability, natural light, and privacy for the youngest children.

Comfort and Light

Beyond its architecture and construction choices, the project stands out for the special attention paid to daily use and occupant well-being. Breaking the program down into several autonomous spaces allows for clear identification of each function while facilitating movement. This layout also helps minimize noise disturbance between the school and after-school facilities. Glazed walkways play a pivotal role in the site’s operation, connecting the buildings and creating transitional areas that open onto the landscape. This transparency fosters cross-views and maintains a constant connection with the outdoor green spaces. Landscaping also contributes to the facility's overall functioning; plantings around the site guide pathways, create shaded areas, and boost local biodiversity. Finally, a clearing within the kindergarten garden serves as a versatile space for unstructured play and recess. More than just a school and after-school facility, the project aims above all to provide a learning environment connected to the natural world, making the relationship with the living environment central to both the design and the use of the premises.

Project Data

Location: Évry-Courcouronnes (91).

Client: City of Évry-Courcouronnes.

Architect: HEMAA.

Multi-disciplinary engineering & Cost consultancy: Ana Ingénierie.

Timber structure: Cunin (Morlot Group).

Roofing & waterproofing: Sarmates.

Exterior joinery & shading systems: Diter.

Interior joinery: Pescia Menuiserie et Bâtiment.

Completion: August 30, 2025.

Floor area: 2,444 m² + 50 underground parking spaces + 3,854 m² of outdoor space.

Budget: €11 million.

Labels and certifications: E+C- (e3c2), Bio-based Building label, HQE V3 certification (Excellent level).

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