An architectural style unified by brick

‘The school of tomorrow’ creates a link between the surrounding neighbourhoods

In Bondy, Seine-Saint-Denis in France, a new public facility has recently been built in a neighbourhood undergoing major change: a school complex and cultural centre designed by Gaëtan Le Penhuel architectes & associés. Located on a strategic plot within a heterogeneous urban fabric, this project aims to redevelop an entire block and recreate links between the surrounding neighbourhoods.

An open, easy-to-understand local structure

The project includes a nursery school, a primary school, a leisure centre and a cultural centre with a multi-purpose hall, arranged around a central green courtyard. This layout allows for a fluid cohabitation of uses and clear, open access for users. “The public facility is made up of two buildings: the nursery school to the east, and the primary schools to the west, which makes it easier for children to identify with their school during their school career”, explains the architect. The project seeks to open up the site by creating strong pedestrian and visual links to the surrounding streets. The buildings are organised around interior courtyards, providing breathing space for children and residents alike. “The playground, on the same level as the town, is designed as a real urban oasis and a potential square for residents. It is home to individual and group games, a planted amphitheatre and a shaded terrace for picnics outside.”

A unifying material: brick as an urban binder

As soon as they visited the site, the architects opted for facing brick, a material that seemed obvious to them given the quality of the neighbouring buildings, often in red brick. In this urban fabric marked by warm, mineral tones, the choice of this material seemed to be the ideal vehicle for establishing a dialogue with the existing buildings, while at the same time giving the project a contemporary, distinctive identity. Facing brick therefore resonates with the local identity.

For this project, the choice fell on an artisanal brick in a light stone colour, the linea Hand-Made 9001 facing brick. The architects explain: “We had initially thought of a white brick, but after several trials and prototypes, the stone-like colour enabled us to integrate the building well into the neighbourhood, which has beige-ochre building tones”. In this way, the choice meets several objectives, unifying the different volumes, offering a smooth integration into a neighbourhood with the same tones, and reinforcing the durability and nobility of the public facility.

The architects were attracted by the generous size and irregular appearance of this brick, which gives it a lively texture that is both contemporary and warm. The light-coloured finish reflects the light and interacts finely with the green spaces on the site. The result is a soft, luminous finish that enhances the rigorous geometry of the volumes.

Attention to detail and constructive coherence

Technically, the bricks are laid in front of a concrete structure with external insulation, offering both energy efficiency and visual depth. This system combines thermal performance and durability, while adding visual depth to the façade. The contrast between the rough texture of the concrete and the more refined appearance of the brick adds a discreet richness to the architectural style. Brick is also used in detail, notably for the window sills and lintels, creating delicate modelling and a controlled rhythm. The rounded corners of the public building echo the elegant arches of the neighbouring auditorium.

Here, the linea 9001 brick is a unifying element that is at once aesthetic, contextual and technical. Its architectural expression is sober and contemporary, while remaining faithful to the ambience of the neighbourhood. A fine demonstration of the material's ability to transcend functions and become a tool for urban and social cohesion.

Comparable case studies

‘Le Grand Palais’ cinema in Cahors constructed using the 'linea 9001'

The cinema is located on the north side of the historic centre of Cahors, a stone’s throw from the banks of the river Lot. The project gave the city council the opportunity to commemorate the old barracks in the Place Bessières and to restore the symmetry from yesteryear which was lost when a fire completely destroyed the east wing in 1943.