Amelia Tavella Architectes completes granite-clad school on craggy Corsican coast

French studio Amelia Tavella Architectes has used irregular blocks of granite to clad the Edmond Simeoni School and Cultural Space, referencing its craggy surroundings in Corsica.

Located in the coastal village of Lumio, the 2,300-square-metre kindergarten, primary school and cultural centre steps down its sloping site with a series of rectilinear volumes, topped with playground terraces overlooking the sea.

Its rough granite walls, green roofs and stepped concrete paths all formed part of a strategy by Amelia Tavella Architectes to accommodate the large programme without disrupting the "integrity" of the landscape.

"The project's guiding idea was to adapt to the rhythms, strengths, and rough edges of the land, allowing the architecture to blend seamlessly with its surroundings," founder Amelia Tavella told Dezeen.

"I aimed to create a school that becomes a part of the landscape, marrying the village and its view of the sea, echoing the curves of the land while enhancing the beauty of nature," she added.

"It's about creating space for learning and culture without altering the land's integrity."

An entrance on the Edmond Simeoni School and Cultural Space's eastern edge leads under a concrete canopy into a large kindergarten playground overlooked by classrooms on either side. The canopy has a large circular cut-out to accommodate a tree.

Further up the hill, the classrooms of the elementary school overlook a garden wrapped by curved concrete steps designed in collaboration with artist Pauline Guerrier. These follow the contours of the land and extend through glass walls into the school's interior.

The multipurpose spaces of the cultural centre sit in a volume beneath the kindergarten's playground, with large windows overlooking another patio at the base of the site.

All of the elements are united by the rough granite cladding, chosen by Amelia Tavella Architectes to evoke the site's craggy surroundings.

"This tiered layout creates a connection between the buildings, with a street-like pathway that extends from the interior to the exterior, mimicking the contours of the land," Tavella said.

"The design allows for movement between levels, where the roof of one building becomes the playground of the one above, creating a sense of openness and connection to nature," added Tavella.

"It's not just a functional element, but also a philosophical one, evoking ancient schools where knowledge was linked to movement."

The school's carpark sits tucked behind its uppermost volume and its largely blank stone walls provide privacy from the two roads that run along either side of the site.

Other schools completed by Amelia Tavella Architects include the limestone-clad Auguste Benedict School in southern France and the timber and stone Groupe Scolaire à Strega School, which is also in Corsica.

The photography is by Guillaume Porche.

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