Project 4 Haute Vallee School

Barnes & Collie and architecture plb were jointly awarded first prize in a competition to design a new ‘secondary school for the future’ emphasising the importance of energy efficiency and advanced technology. The design was developed through an exhaustive consultation exercise with educational advisors, school departments, local residents and regulatory authorities. Resembling a small village, individual buildings devoted to the various school departments are grouped around sheltered open spaces, expressing the idea of the school as a physical and social community. Manipulation of the natural topography provided a level sports pitch and reduced the visual impact of the substantial buildings. The campus has been designed as a community school with theatre, sports pitch, swimming pool, gymnasium and sports hall facilities open to the wider community through groups, clubs and associations.