The Docks school in Saint-Ouen, a northern suburb of Paris, is situated in the middle of an urban complex composed mainly of high-rise office blocks and residential housing. Photovoltaic panels have been integrated into the architecture, giving the school a strong identity while maximizing energy efficiency. The building has stepped tiers near the main street, and is extended by large canopies that fold in crosswise strips on the site’s diagonal facing southward.
These strips are separated by internal gardens which run east-west and offer views into the school while clearly identifying its light-filled classrooms and sheltered patios. Facing southward, the school is arranged in a succession of gardens and brightly-lit terraces that gradually descend to allow for maximum amounts of sunlight.
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