Leonard De Vinci High School Phase Two, Montpellier Educational Facility, French Architecture Design, Images

Leonard De Vinci High School in Montpellier Phase Two

New Educational Facility in Southern France design by Hellin-Sebbag architects

29 Nov 2017

Leonard De Vinci High School Phase Two

Design: Hellin-Sebbag, architects

Location: Montpellier, France

Leonard De Vinci High School Phase Two

Media centre and student foyer seen from canteen terrace

Subsequent to delivering staff housing and reception building in 2013, this autumn the Hellin-Sebbag Architectes Associés office completed the second phase of the reconstruction of this building trades high school.

Media centre connects two teaching buildings by two footbridges

Planted courtyard seen from school grounds

Wide step in front of boarding accommodation where it is good to sit

The architect’s appointment comprised different scales – from urban space to furniture.

Planted courtyard seen from boarding accommodation covered gallery

Raised above ground, white frame indicates media centre

Planning
Complete replanning of the 4-hectare site, the four new buildings built around a 450m2 square courtyard organise the school grounds as an urban square: student foyer , media centre, student activities, canteen and boarding accommodation.
To avoid the image of “hutches” within the bitumen courtyard, around beautiful existing trees the architects built a Mediterranean garden where pupils can relax freely.

Connecting bridge between reception building and media centre

Architecture
The architects paid particular attention to the transition between the inside and outside.
Identifiable by its red frame, a ground floor terrace extends the canteen to the south by opening onto the courtyard. Alongside the boarding accommodation, a covered gallery extends into the garden as a large step where it is good to sit.

Connected to both teaching buildings by two footbridges on the first floor, a small white pavilion extended by a vast terrace accommodates the media centre. Protected by a sunshade, the terrace overlooking the garden becomes a central place for exchanges and relaxation.
Below this terrace, the well-shaded courtyard is punctuated by the pupils foyer that nestles into a glass ellipse.

Shaded terrace that gives access to media centre

Design
The atmosphere within each space has been designed according to its function with particular care and originality. In the canteen, a sinuous curved partition/counter creates a separation between the self-service and the dining area while small oval-shaped islands define areas of intimacy very appreciated by pupils.
Similarly in the media centre, the magazine rack and screen support tables were specially designed by the architects.

Open towards courtyard, media centre reading area benefits from roof lighting

Vertical fins delimit student foyer ellipse

Red frame indicates canteen terrace

Canteen terrace opens onto south planted courtyard

Small oval-shaped islands create areas of intimacy within canteen appreciated by pupils

Undulating partition/counter provides separation from self-service

Covered gallery along boarding accommodation gives access to activity and weightlifting rooms

Boarding accommodation – 3-pupil bedroom interior

Low energy consumption
Thermal comfort is provided by reinforced external insulation, double flow ventilation and external solar protection.

Financed by the Occitanie Region for 29 € million excluding taxes, the two construction phases in occupied premises lasted nearly eight years.

Boarding accommodation – wide corridor indicates access to 4-bedroom groups

Photographs: Benoit Wherlé

Leonard De Vinci High School in Montpellier Phase Two images / information from Hellin-Sebbag

Hellin-Sebbag architectes associés

Address: 1 Rue du Professeur Blayac, 34080 Montpellier, France
Phone: +33 4 67 10 40 10

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