Zero Energy School Campus

Saint-Ouen, France

A Solar Canopy

Public

2015

Find out more

Status

Completed

Client

City of Saint-Ouen, Sequano Aménagement

Address

ZAC des Docks, Saint-Ouen, France

Date

2015

Area

4 820 m² SHON

Program (Details)

School Campus, Cultural Center, Cafeteria, Gardens, Administrative Offices

Credits

Photos: Jan Bitter, Florient Kleinfenn

Project Team

Architect

Mikoü

Structure

BERIM

Fluids

BERIM

HQE

Franck Boutté

Economy

Bureau Michel Forgue

Others

Acoustics: LASA

Situated at the heart of the ZAC des Docks in Saint-Ouen, a pioneering Zero Energy district, the Campus stands as a testament to a pronounced ecological ambition. Encompassed by high-rise residential and office buildings, it asserts its individuality and presence. Its roof serves as a foundational element of the project, acting as an urban signal where nature and innovation converge.

The Campus Between the City and the Gardens

The campus unfolds in terraced layers to the east, extending along the main street beneath expansive protective canopies. It curves in transversal strips, shaping the space diagonally to optimize the capture of southern light. These terraced strips are interspersed with interior gardens, providing green sanctuaries that fill the teaching spaces with a peaceful, radiant calm. To the south, a harmonious sequence of terraces and patios gently cascades, unveiling panoramic views and maximizing sun exposure.

A Solar Canopy, Bluish Gleams Over the City
The outdoor courtyards, elevated on the rooftops, offer high-up living spaces, sheltered by large canopies made of glazed photovoltaic panels. These transparent awnings, with their bluish reflections, form a radiant cascade along the main facade, integrating the campus into the urban landscape with both elegance and modernity.

A Natural Haven in the Heart of the City
The campus architecture is arranged in open, comb-like structures to the south, interspersed with generous gardens that maintain the tranquility of the teaching spaces. The campus is designed to offer optimal orientation to both the south and north, reducing street noise, with plant-filled transparencies that link each area to nature. Rooftop gardens further extend this natural immersion into the upper levels.

A Cascade of Courtyards Under a Solar Canopy

The building’s envelope integrates concrete and natural wood, with reinforced concrete panels shielded by enhanced insulation. On the southern facades, horizontal wooden slats are employed, establishing a warm, textured surface that engages in dialogue with the surrounding gardens. Upon entering, the reception area opens onto a series of traversing gardens, unveiling a spacious, well-lit gallery that serves as a conduit to the communal areas: the Library, the Media Library, the Multipurpose Room, and the Dining Facility. The Docks Campus transcends the role of a mere educational space; it functions as a dynamic ecosystem, fostering an interaction between architecture and nature.