Hélène Carrère d'Encausse School by archi5 + bureau faceB

A School Rooted in Nature and Community

At one of the gateways to Marly, the Hélène Carrère d'Encausse School by archi5 and bureau faceB symbolizes the city’s renewal through education, sustainability, and landscape integration. This contemporary educational complex brings together the Nelson Mandela and Louise Michel Schools, merging them into a single emblematic institution that redefines what a nature-focused learning environment can be.

The project’s guiding principle—a school in the trees—expresses a profound connection between architecture and landscape. Conceived as a unifying civic gesture, the school acts as a bridge between urban life and the natural environment, inviting children to learn, play, and grow within a lush, green setting.

  Architects: archi5 

Architectural Concept: Branches That Unite

The layout of the building unfolds like two branches extending toward one another, converging at the heart of the park. One branch stretches from the east and the other from the west—symbolically representing students coming together in a shared space of discovery.

This meeting point divides the southern section of the park into two distinct yet connected playgrounds, serving the nursery and primary schools respectively. The plan embodies a balance between openness and protection, ensuring that the school engages with the surrounding city while creating a nurturing, safe world for children within.

Curves and counter-curves define the architecture, guiding movement through a fluid sequence of classrooms, communal spaces, and outdoor learning environments. These organic forms mirror the natural topography and evoke the gentle rhythm of the surrounding landscape.

Material Expression and Eco-Responsibility

The building’s composition relies on a dialogue between two essential materials:

• A solid concrete base clad in mineral brick, anchoring the school to the public realm and ensuring durability.
• A lightweight wooden attic with timber facades and natural insulation, expressing warmth, ecological sensitivity, and the metaphor of a school nestled among trees.

This duality reinforces both structural integrity and environmental performance. Natural materials, daylight optimization, and bioclimatic strategies combine to create a sustainable educational environment that minimizes energy use while maximizing comfort and sensory engagement.

A Holistic Learning Landscape

The school’s program supports 12 primary classrooms and 6 nursery classrooms, complemented by a multi-purpose hall, library, after-school care area, kitchen, and a skills room. Beyond the interiors, the landscape design plays a crucial pedagogical role—featuring tree-lined courtyards, shaded playgrounds, rooftop vegetable gardens, and a carefully preserved plant heritage.

These outdoor spaces encourage hands-on environmental learning and foster an early appreciation for ecology, biodiversity, and community responsibility.

The Architecture of a New Educational Era

Through its soft geometries, natural materials, and eco-friendly design, the Hélène Carrère d'Encausse School embodies Marly’s civic ambition: to deliver quality education grounded in sustainability, inclusivity, and shared cultural values.

All photographs are works of Louis Duboys Fresney