During the 1960s, the planning of four developments in the periphery of the town of Gland was to respond to significant population growth and to the will to preserve the town centre. However, only one of these developments known as "Cité Ouest" and composed of two high-rise towers and slab blocks has been completed.

The new Collège des Tuillières is an integral part of this urban environment with an architecture inspired by Le Corbusier's "radiant city" and pays tribute to a very clear concept of "non-private appropriation" of the ground on which it is built. The generous presence of a large park-like area in the centre of the site and made available to all residents is one of the major highlights of this urban and architectural concept. The integration of the schoolyard in this green space fosters a community function further enriched by the interaction of activities and their coexistence within a single landscaped area.

In order to pursue the concept of large structures above public space, all of the project's elements - classrooms, sports halls, administration and psycho-educational centre - have been combined in one and the same volume.

The transparency of the semi-underground sports halls allows to preserve a strong visual link between the street and the schoolyard in the park. The classrooms are located on the three upper levels around a large central hall which regularly extends to the façade. Through the use of cascading voids designed to constitute the visual link between the floors and a multitude of natural light sources, this hall proves to be a coherent design component which unites.

The wide spans which define the static of the sports halls are the result of a set of concrete shear walls on the classroom floors. The layout of these shear walls, parallel to the large sides of the volume whose two façades are also supporting structures, makes up the primary structure of the building. The secondary structure and shear walls are ensured by slabs of reinforced concrete. According to the same static system, the three upper levels form a cantilever nine meters deep which protects a portion of the schoolyard from inclement weather and marks the entrance to the building.

The use of clinker brick to build the façades reinforces the particular nature of the new school complex while integrating it in the volumetry of the surrounding neighbourhood. The monolithic look of the exterior contrasts sharply with the atmosphere inside marked by the lightness and fluidity of space.

Building client Commune of Gland
Address Chemin de la Tuilerie
Zip code 1196
Town Gland, VD
Country Switzerland

Designers Mann & Capua Mann, architectes dipl. EPFL FAS SIA
Collaborator Dominik Riser – Mojca Zavodnik – Véronique Favre – Philippe Steiner
Building managment Regtec SA, Lausanne

Competition 2001
Building period 2002 - 2005
Status Completed

Fonction Secondary school
Floor levels Underground, ground +2
Gross floor area SIA 8’367m2

Photographer © Thomas Jantscher, Clarens

Structural engineering AIC ingénieurs conseils SA, Lausanne
Facade Arteco SA, Chexbres
Heating/ ventilation ER Energie Rationnelle SA, Denges
Sanitation HS bureau technique, Lausanne
Electric engineering Betelec SA, Lausanne
Acoustic Bruno Schroeter