L-Shaped White Brick volume outlines Rosa Parks School Group
Rosa Parks School Complex by Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés is located within the Gratte-Ciel ZAC, a large-scale urban renewal project redefining the center of Villeurbanne, France. Positioned at the entrance to the future district, the building establishes a transition between planned developments to the west and the existing urban fabric to the east.
The school project is organised in an L-shaped configuration along the site’s peripheral boundaries. This arrangement articulates connections between adjacent neighbourhoods while structuring internal courtyards and circulation. The north-west corner is treated as a pivotal element, marking the entrance to the district and mediating scale relationships with surrounding plots. A gradual stepping of volumes from north to south produces a slender figure at the corner and a terraced elevation facing the courtyard, referencing the verticality of the historic Gratte-Ciel towers while maximising sunlight exposure.
On the street, the school is expressed as a unified three-story volume clad in white brick. The facade extends upward to incorporate elevated playgrounds into a continuous architectural form. A terracotta mashrabiya system filters southern light, generating layered shadow effects while contributing to solar control. Within the block, the courtyard and a level-two playground canopy extend the dialogue between solid and void.
all images by Sergio Grazia
Shades of White and Layered Terraces Define BGA’s School Design
Through material articulation, BGA’s design team reinforces the building’s cohesive identity. Matte and glazed brick, metal elements, and aluminium joinery are deployed in varied shades of white, producing nuanced reflections and light capture across the facades. The result is a consistent material expression that responds to changing daylight conditions.
Landscaped educational gardens are introduced at levels R+1 and R+3, integrating outdoor learning environments into the vertical composition. Changes in height generate a network of staircases that structure circulation while offering varied spatial perspectives. Through its volumetric composition, material continuity, and integration of open-air spaces, the project defines a contemporary architectural framework for educational facilities within a transforming urban district.
an L-shaped plan defines the school’s perimeter and internal courtyards
white brick cladding defines the building’s primary material expression
terraced elevations maximise sunlight exposure toward the courtyard
the courtyard extends the interplay between solid and void
staircases articulate circulation across changing heights
filtered daylight enters through screened partitions, casting soft patterns across curved surfaces
layered interior spaces are connected through a sequence of sculpted staircases
timber elements introduce warmth, contrasting with the white brick envelope
curved transitions and stepped levels create fluid movement between shared spaces
layered shadows animate the facade throughout the day
a slender corner profile addresses the surrounding streetscape
the project integrates open-air spaces within a cohesive architectural framework
project info:
name: Rosa Parks School Group
architect: Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés | @brenacgonzalezassocies
architect associate: Jean-Pierre Lévêque
project managers: Arnaud Ladauge, Jullien Gonin
manufacturers: Wienerberger, Kawneer
client: City of Villeurbanne
landscape: Jean Michel Rameau
location: 138 rue Francis de Pressensé, 69100, Villeurbanne, France
area: 3900 sqm
photographer: Sergio Grazia | @sergio.grazia
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
The post stepped white brick facade wraps school group in france by brenac & gonzalez & associés appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.