School and Library

History: Situated in the center of Guillestre, the historical school building helps establish the identity of the village and its 2,300 residents. The building was set to be refurbished at the same time the municipal library was found to be in need of renovations as well. The western wing, built in the 1960s, was demolished. In its place, a wood building was erected, housing the library and a multipurpose hall while carefully adding to the traditional architecture.

Design: The elementary school (750 m²) was set to preserve its original character, thus the facade was left untouched. The refurbishment was done within a year while the school operations continued. A life cycle analysis supported the realization of the project. The large, open multipurpose room (644 m²) and the furniture give off an inviting air. The structural system sports three-dimensional, underlaid girders made of silver fir.

Wood: The used wood (98 m³ of silver fir and larch) was cut in the municipal forest of Guillestre, with the procurement made possible through the use of Bois des Alpes™-certified wood. The sawmill and the wood construction company are located only 19 and 8 kilometers away, respectively, proving that that very short supply and production chains are possible.