Agile architecture: the Heudebouville school, a contemporary archetype of sustainability.

In a remarkable site, whose surrounding landscape is characterized by the enveloping atmosphere of the Seine Valley with its hills in the background, there arises the need for a new school connected to the Norman village of Heudebouville (France). A project closely linked to nature by the Hemaa architecture studio.

Integration with nature: Agile Architecture and Territory Morphology

A school in Heudebouville, France, is a contemporary archetype that comes to life from the wooded countryside, drawing inspiration from its morphology through the architectural study of HEMAA.
Thus, the wood from the houses of the Norman Village, the characteristic lattice for the window frames and structure, the slate from the bell tower and town hall to cover and protect the facades and roof are the main materials that construct the new school structure.

Structures that follow the landscape profiles

The structure of houses and agricultural buildings is reinterpreted, giving rise to large contemporary longhouses (a long and narrow environment, typically inhabited by farmers and craftsmen and typical of the regions of Brittany and Normandy in northwestern France).
The geography of the site orders the architecture of the place itself, as the houses are arranged in accordance with the terrain and respecting the natural soil. These guidelines define playing fields, create orchards, and become valleys that collect rainwater, feeding a distinctively landscaped basin.

Anticipating the future with sustainability

This layered organization anticipates the planned growth of the village and the future expansion of the school, to offer each family the opportunity to grow within the spaces.
Respecting the original layout, classrooms can be added and furthermore, the cafeteria, courtyards, and gardens can be expanded to accommodate more students and users.
In this regard, the fire safety networks and systems already take into account this potential growth. The structural system with arcades, due to the absence of any intermediate load-bearing point, allows for this future evolution and complete modularity of the premises.
The facades and roof are composed of pre-assembled off-site modules, which combine air/water tightness, insulation, and structure. The 5x2 m pieces, developed in 3D with the carpenter, have allowed for efficient construction times.

Zero carbon footprint, environmental sustainability at the core of the architectural project.

The construction of the school is part of a process to reduce its carbon footprint. The use of wood, slate, the integration of photovoltaic panels, and the absence of fossil fuel consumption for heating equipment allow for achieving ambitious E3C2 and BEPOS levels.
Lastly, the site has been entirely built with local materials from local companies.

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