First prize in a competition, the “Au fil des Saisons” project set up the school in a learning park combining nature and culture in a close and innovative environment.

Situated between two contrasting contexts, the urban and the landscape, the mineral and the vegetal, the school was proposed as an entity set in a park that is one with that of the Town Hall. This major public space forms the heart and lung of a very dense neighborhood and connects it to the other sectors of the City of Lancy. The original topographical link is finely restored to the territory thanks to a gently sloping meadow linking the Town Hall to the school. The strong idea of the proposal was to transform the park into a school. The exterior and interior blend together, transforming the school into a “learning park” in which nature and culture come together in a close and innovative environment.

The location of the building in the north-western part of the perimeter allows for a generous landscaped area in which the footbridge across the valley to the east and the sports field and park to the south take place. The presence of numerous trees favours a cool area beneficial to the whole site. The main entrance to the school and extracurricular activities is through a covered forecourt to the south of the building, in a sequence of outdoor courtyard – covered courtyard – entrance.

The school program is developed around the learning “core” located in the center of the building. This island of fresh plant life includes the school’s arrival area, connections between floors and direct views of the gym, refectory, rhythm room and classrooms. This core gives the space a bright and vibrant quality while subdividing it into a number of clearly defined zones. It is intended for learning how to garden for young children in an atmosphere easily controlled by teachers. A space that invites the sun, daylight and plants into the very heart of the building, letting nature remain the central element of the spatial experience.