Groupe scolaire, Chennevières (France)

The future is written in Orange

Whether it’s in the playful approach in the building’s reception and leisure areas or a reference to the roof tiles on the neighbouring houses, PIGMENTO® Orange unquestionably gives the new Germaine Tillion school in Chennevières-sur-Marne some unique signage. The choice of coloured zinc for the 5,500m2 of roofs and exteriors clearly identifies the public facility in a suburban neighbourhood undergoing profound change. Designed by Archi5 (Montreuil), the 12-classroom complex with a school canteen, play centre and multi-purpose hall is the starting point of a large-scale public utility infrastructure project which should eventually bring together other districts of the town. Picking up on the surrounding vocabulary of sloping roofs and detached houses, the designers wanted to give the school the appearance of a large farm with origami zinc roofs and zinc or brick facades. That way, it keeps a trace of the existing urban fabric in the new architecture while already creating contemporary lines—the beginnings of a new future.