Loroux-Bottereau middle school

At Le Loroux-Bottereau, east of Nantes, Magnum's competition entry for the public middle school is a timber-frame building set on a plinth of concrete made from recovered construction materials. Timber cladding settles it into the site; the roofs are planted, except the south wing, which carries photovoltaics. The teaching spaces run over three levels in two wings linked by a large through-hall, with a third wing for the dining hall. Inside, timber is chosen for acoustic comfort and every material is biosourced. The schoolyard follows an 'ideal courtyard' model: four plots for sport, play, gathering and quiet, with careful water management.