The remodeling and extension project for La Cabucelle Primary School is part of the third phase of the SPEM’s school renovation plan (Marseille’s Public School Strategy Company). Located in a rapidly changing Marseille suburban neighborhood—characterized by the coexistence of economic activities, working-class housing, and townhouses—the project contributes to revitalizing the urban fabric while preserving its Mediterranean and popular identity.

The architectural design focuses on preserving traces of the past, such as stone walls and existing buildings along the streets, while integrating a new three-story building aligned with the Boulevard d’Anjou, thus respecting the surrounding urban scale and perspective. The topography is leveraged to reduce the visual impact of the structures and to guarantee optimal natural daylighting for the north-south oriented classrooms.

The layout prioritizes the children’s privacy and safety by creating internal courtyards and patios that form a cocoon shielded from noise and overlooking neighbors. Outdoor corridors and terraces are designed as educational extensions, offering open-air learning spaces and an educational garden connecting the nursery and elementary school sections. The outdoor landscaping is based on the concept of inclusive “cool islands,” structured around four essential dimensions: psychomotor, sensory, social, and imaginative. These green spaces serve simultaneously as areas for play, learning, and social bonding, actively contributing to the neighborhood’s urban network.

The project incorporates a hybrid wood-concrete construction method that ensures durability and carbon sobriety, as well as a nocturnal natural ventilation system that provides passive thermal comfort while raising students’ ecological awareness of climate challenges.